Nada Hafez has revealed she competed at this summer’s Paris Olympics while seven months pregnant.

The 26-year-old fencer from Cairo overcame the odds to beat the United States’ Elizabeth Tartakovsky, a former US college champion, in the round of 32 of the women’s sabre.

She exited the competition in the last 16, losing to Jeon Ha-young of South Korea.

But after being knocked out on Monday, she made the remarkable revelation on social media.

In a post titled “Seven months pregnant Olympian!” she said she had competed in the event while carrying her “little Olympian”.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Hafez, who also competed at the Rio and Tokyo games, wrote: “What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three!

“It was me, my competitor, and my yet-to-come to our world, little baby! My baby and I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical and emotional.

“The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous, however worth it.

“I’m writing this post to say that pride fills my being for securing my place in the round of 16!

“I’m lucky to have shared the trust of my husband and that of my family to be able to come this far.

“This specific Olympics was different; Three times *Olympian*, but this time carrying a little Olympian one.”

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more:
Team GB diving star has a famous father
What do Olympians win if they bring home medals?
Potter wins bronze in women’s triathlon

A former gymnast, Hafez has a degree in medicine and has won gold medals in the individual and team sabre events at the 2019 African Games.

She finished Monday’s competition officially ranked 16th, her best result in any of her three Olympic appearances.

Related posts:

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to journalists who champion freedom of press Children can now visit Spain without being fully vaccinated Russia dismisses ‘so-called food crisis’ as shipping companies steer clear of grain trapped in Ukraine Sixth person dies in Lake Garda this month as search for British father continues Police officer stabbed to death in ‘terror attack’ near Belgian train station Missing British astronomer found dead in Chile US sportswriter Grant Wahl died from aortic aneurysm while covering World Cup in Qatar, widow says What the arrest warrant really means for Putin: Could he face arrest and stand trial? Harry Kane signs Bayern Munich contract and completes medical Bus plunges into a ravine killing 16 in the Philippines Arrests made over plot to blackmail Michael Schumacher’s family Eight dead in fire at former Russian research institute