Kaylia Nemour of Algeria achieved “the performance of her life” to become the first African woman to win an Olympic medal in gymnastics, winning gold on the uneven bars on Sunday 4 August. The French-born 17-year-old won the title ahead of China’s Qiu Qiyuan, while American Sunisa Lee took bronze. Defending champion Nina Derwael of Belgium finished fourth.
“I’m so shocked, this is the dream of my whole life. I can’t believe this has happened, I’m speechless,” Nemour said. “This was my ultimate dream, years of hard work, details. I’m honoured to have won this medal, firstly for myself and also for Algeria.”
The astonishing high-flying acrobatic performance by Nemour earned 15,700 points, which pushed 17-year-old world champion Qiu to the silver medal with 15,500 points.
“In the qualifiers, I had 15,600 points and when I saw his 15,500 points, I said to myself that I really had to fight and I put in the performance of my life,” declared the Algerian. “It’s crazy, I’m honoured to have this medal after everything that’s happened, it’s a relief”.
France and medical dispute
Having been prevented from competing for medical reasons by the French federation following a dispute, Nemour chose to represent her father’s country. She grew 14 centimetres in one year, just after her 13th birthday, causing a bone problem that required surgery on both knees.
Following a legal battle lasting several months, Nemour was excluded from the French team and chose to represent Algeria at the World Championships last October and at the Olympic Games in Paris. “I’m very happy to have won this medal for Algeria. I hope I’ve made them proud,” said the athlete. “It’s been a very long road. But now I’m happy to have put in a good performance and won gold.”
She was the favourite in the absence of American gymnastics great Simone Biles, who did not qualify for the uneven bars final. Team-mate Lee won bronze ahead of Derwael, a former double world champion who was returning from surgery.
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“Seeing the others do so well put pressure on me to do well,” said Lee, 21. “That’s exactly what I did.”
Her exercise earned her 14.800 points and her third medal in Paris after team gold and bronze in the all-round competition. Qui had “regrets” about missing out on gold. “Kaylia was extraordinary today,” said Qui. “All the movements were so fluid. Her exercise was perfect. She did even better than her previous exercises.”
