Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Paris Olympics was marked by a modest showing. The Kingdom was represented by a delegation of 9 athletes.
It marked the Kingdom’s lowest number of athletes to travel to the Olympics since the 2000 event.
Although the nation’s athletes displayed determination, they ultimately fell short of scooping medals in the high-profile event.
Rising swimming stars:
Swimmer Mashael Al-Ayed crashed out of the Women’s 200m freestyle event on July 28th.
She finished 6th in heat 1, registering 2:19.61m, a new personal record for the 18-year-old swimmer.
🏅| #باريس2024
🏊| السباحــة
📊| تصفيات 200 م حرّة
• مشـــاعل العـايـــد 🏊
• المركز 6
• بزمن 2:19:61د ⏱️– رقم شخصي جديد يختتم المشاركة الأولى لصاحبة الـ 17 عام في الأولمبياد – المستقبل أمامك بإذن الله 🙏 #حنا_معكم 🇸🇦 | #باريس2024 pic.twitter.com/zNlXps5wRd
— اللجنة الأولمبية والبارالمبية السعودية 🇸🇦 (@saudiolympic) July 28, 2024
Moreover, 16-year-old simmer Zaid Al-Sarraj failed to advance to the semifinal of Men’s 100m freestyles event on July 30th after registering 51.21s, setting a new personal record.
رقــم جـديـد 🔝
ظهور أولمبي أول ✔️
وبعمـر 16 عـام 🇸🇦بـطل يا زيـد 🏊♂️#حنا_معكم 🇸🇦 | #باريس2024 pic.twitter.com/K1MCcWbCsC
— اللجنة الأولمبية والبارالمبية السعودية 🇸🇦 (@saudiolympic) July 30, 2024
Saudi Knights fail in Equestrian event:
For the first time since 2012, Saudi Arabia entered a squad of four jumping riders into the Olympic equestrian competition.
The trio Ramzy Al-Duhami, Abdulrahman Alrajhi and Abdullah Al-Sharbatly came in the 19th place recording a time of 167.65. They crashed out of the Jumping Team competition on August 1st.
• رمــزي الدهـامي 🐎
• عبدالرحمن الراجحـي 🐎
• خـالد المبـطي 🐎الفُرسان الثلاثة هُم من سيخوض غمار الشوط التأهيلي لمنافسات اليوم 🔛🏇
– جولة واحدة لكل فارس ☝️
– التأهل لـ10 فرق من أصل 20 🐎#حنا_معكم | #باريس2024 pic.twitter.com/3CKmHChre7— اللجنة الأولمبية والبارالمبية السعودية 🇸🇦 (@saudiolympic) August 1, 2024
Another disappointment in Athletics:
Saudi pole vaulter Hussain Al-Hizam bid farewell to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after being eliminated in the qualifying round on Saturday.
🏅| #باريس2024
🎽| ألعاب القوى
🆚| القفز بالعصا▪️ حسين آل حزام
المحاولة الأولى ❌
المحاولة الثانية ❌
المحاولة الثالثة ❌بارتفاع 5.40 م
حسين آل حزام يغادر منافسات الققز بالعصا من الدور التأهيلي بثلاث محاولات غير ناجحة.
#حنا_معكم 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/bHRR6D98aC
— اللجنة الأولمبية والبارالمبية السعودية 🇸🇦 (@saudiolympic) August 3, 2024
Al-Hizam competed in Group B of the qualification, failing in all his three attempts.
Additionally, shot putter Mohammed Tolo also failed to advance to the finals on Friday, after coming 8th in Group B of the qualification. He registered 20.65m.
🏅| #باريس2024
🎽| العاب القوى
🆚| دفع الجلة▪️ محمـد تــولـو
الرمية الثانية: خطأ ❌
#حنا_معكم 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/bQqToDnFPG
— اللجنة الأولمبية والبارالمبية السعودية 🇸🇦 (@saudiolympic) August 2, 2024
Taekwondo hopeful star:
For the first time since the year 2000, Saudi Arabia was represented by an athlete to compete at the taekwondo event. Dunya Abutaleb, became the nation’s first female to compete at the taekwondo event in the Paris Olympics.
She won the semifinal rounds in her class, at the 2024 Asian Qualification Tournament in China.
Abutaleb will compete in the Women’s 49 kg qualification event on July 7th.
