Olympics-Gymnastics-Allez! Algeria's French-born Nemour delights home crowd
By Karen Braun, Chang-Ran Kim
PARIS, Aug 4 (Reuters) -Spectators in Paris’ Bercy Arena could sense they had witnessed a special Olympic moment on Sunday after Algerian teenager Kaylia Nemour dismounted the asymmetric bars, capping off the performance of her life.
An adoring fan thrust a sign reading “ALLEZ KAYLIA” amid the supportive screams from the whole crowd, and even fellow competitors could not contain excitement for the young bar guru, whose dizzying string of tricks in the apparatus final helped her lock up the gold.
The 17-year-old was instantly overcome with emotion, knowing she had probably delivered both Algeria and Africa their first ever gymnastics medal.
“I'm still a bit in shock because I don't think I'm an Olympic champion on the uneven bars,” a beaming Nemour told reporters after holding off the second and third finishers, China’s Qiu Qiyuan and American Sunisa Lee.
The triumph was so meaningful for Algeria that it prompted President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to immediately congratulate Nemour during the country's celebration of National Army Day.
Nemour’s mother, Stephanie, was still in tears following the medal ceremony, overjoyed by her daughter’s milestone.
“I’m moved. She had to dig so deep, way beyond herself. She really wanted that medal,” she told Reuters.
It has not been an easy road to Paris for the French-born Nemour, who previously represented France but last year switched nationalities to Algeria, the country of her father’s ancestry.
Nemour's Olympic dream was threatened when a dispute with the French gymnastics federation that began over training locations meant she would not be able to compete for her country.
But she made the switch in time to qualify for the Games at last year’s world championships and now proudly represents Algeria, no longer hung up on the French troubles.
“We are way beyond that point. This is about her dream and it’s absolutely wonderful,” Nemour’s mother said.
Meanwhile, France's female gymnasts failed to advance, as had been expected, to any medal events at their own Games. The poor showing exposed the weaknesses in the French team that Nemour might have been able to fill.
“We would like to welcome (Nemour) again,” French fan Alain Truphemus told Reuters, with his 11-year-old daughter and aspiring gymnast Mila in tow.
Algerian Aziz Smira, 26, who was in the stands to celebrate Nemour's victory, could not hold backhis elation.
"What we saw today was historical. She shone like a diamond today, so it's really incredible. It was a win for Algeria."
Additional reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Ashraf Hamed Atta, editing by Pritha Sarkar
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