A Blast From the Past: Here are Arab Athletes Who Competed in the Winter Olympics Throughout the Years
The Winter Olympic Games are an ongoing international multi-sport event held in Beijing, China, and the nearby Chongli district of Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. The games began on Feb. 4, with preliminary events beginning on Feb. 2. The event is expected to end on Feb. 20, 2022. Alpine Skating, Biathlon, Figure Skating, Curling, Freestyle Skating, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, and Ice Hockey are among the sports represented.
Bella Hadid is a supermodel who has had a huge impact on the fashion business with her incredible work. She said on Instagram four days ago that her father’s participation in the Winter Olympics is a source of pride for all Arabs and a great example of sporting success. For that reason, we decided to look at Arab athletes who have competed in the Winter Olympics Games throughout history in honor of Bella’s father, Mr. Mohamed Hadid.
Mohamed Hadid
Is Saudi Arabia the only Arab country that has participated in such a prominent event? Of course, No! Let us travel back to 1992, 30 years ago, when Mr. Mohamed Hadid, the father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid, competed in the Winter Olympics for Speed Skiing. He was the only Palestinian to compete in such an event. Furthermore, Mr. Hadid was trained by the outstanding and legendary Franz Weber, an Austrian speed skier who holds many world records.
Mr. Hadid participating in Speed Skiing during the 1992 Winter Olympics.
Hadid is of Jordanian descent and was born in Nazareth, Palestine. He is now a successful real estate developer in Los Angeles, with a number of projects that have infused the city of Beverly Hills with opulent hotels and extravagant mansions.
Mr. Hadid has had a big impact on the world through his career accomplishments and his family members who work in various industries and are all leaving their mark and legacy for the Hadid name.
Fayik Abdi
Many countries participated in the Winter Olympics, and Arabs were present throughout. Thus, Saudi Arabia is making history this year by participating for the first time with a delegation that includes only one male alpine skier, Fayik Abdi, who served as the country’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony. This was a historic event when Saudi Arabia competed in the Winter Olympics for the first time in an effort to promote sports and achieve its 2030 vision.
Samer Tawk
Tawk, who is only 19 years old, is Lebanon’s first cross-country skier to qualify for the Winter Olympics. He earned his qualification after only two and a half years of training in the sport.
Adam Lamhamedi
Lamhamedi, who is only 22 years old, has already competed in his second Winter Olympics for Morocco. He was born in Canada to Moroccan parents and has been representing Morocco in international tournaments since 2010. He represented Morocco at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games, where he won gold. Thus, he became the first individual in history to win a medal while representing an African country in a Winter Olympic event.
Samir Azzimani
Azzimani, 40, is a Moroccan-French alpine and Nordic skier who represented Morocco at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2015 Nordic World Championships in Falun, Sweden. In cross-country skiing, he qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Manon Ouaiss
She won three gold medals at the 2021 Alpine Skiing Small Evolving Ski Nations Cup and a silver medal at the 2016 Asian Alpine Ski Championships. Ouaiss also competed in the 2018 FIS Junior World Ski Championships, as well as the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2019 and 2021. The 2022 Winter Olympic Games began on Feb. 4, and despite placing 46th in the Women’s Slalom and failing to finish in the Women’s Giant Slalom this week, Ouaiss has thoroughly enjoyed herself.
So there you have it! Six Olympians who have competed in the Winter Olympics over the years.
