French-born Kaylia Nemour wins historic Olympic gold for Algeria; Suni Lee claims bronze

Nemour, who trains roughly 150 miles from Paris, began competing for her father’s birth country of Algeria in 2023. This came after a long dispute with the French Gymnastics Federation. 

In 2021, Nemour developed osteochondritis, a joint condition in her knees that required multiple surgeries which took her out of the sport for nearly a year. Although her personal doctor cleared her to compete, the French national team doctor — who had never examined her — refused to clear her. 

With just one year to go until the Games, Nemour’s career came to a standstill. 

With her final qualification opportunity for the Games quickly approaching, Nemour decided to switch her nationally to represent Algeria. However, the French federation did not approve the change, meaning Nemour wouldn’t be able to compete until July 2023. 

That date fell after the African Championships, a crucial event for Nemour as she needed to compete in it to qualify for the world championships. Success there would then enable her to secure a spot at the Paris Olympics.

An online petition demanding the release of Nemour garnered over 6,000 signatures. In May 2023, six French gymnasts disclosed instances of abuse during their time on the national team. French Minister for Sport and the Olympic & Paralympic Games, Amelie Oudea-Castera, pledged to investigate the allegations. She also convened a meeting with the French Gymnastics Federation to address various issues within the sport, including Nemour’s nationality dispute. 

Subsequently, the Federation announced that Nemour could represent Algeria, clearing her to compete less than two weeks before the African Championships.

Nemour has made the absolute most of the opportunity. She first turned heads in her world championship debut in 2023 where she finished second on the uneven bars, becoming the first African gymnast to win a world medal. 

In what is still considered a home Games for Nemour, she finished fifth in the all-around final in addition to bringing home the gold on the uneven bars. 

“I am very, very, very happy with what I was able to do today,” Nemour said. “I am still a little shocked … It was my ultimate dream, years of work and hard work, details. I think it is really crazy and I am really honored to have been able to win this medal, its a first for me and for Algeria too. I hope I made them proud.”