French-Born Gymnast Kaylia Nemour to Compete for Algeria at Paris Olympics
When Kaylia Nemour takes to the floor alongside Simone Biles and her gymnastics rivals at the Paris Olympics, she’ll feel right at home. The 17-year-old athlete, born in France, grew up and still trains there. But despite her French roots, Nemour will be competing for Algeria, a decision that has been years in the making.
The dispute between Nemour’s club, Avoine Beaumont, and the French gymnastics federation began after Nemour suffered from a bone and cartilage condition and underwent surgery on both knees in 2021. The federation thought her problems were the result of overtraining and decided to postpone her return to competition, despite her surgeon’s go-ahead. The long-lasting crisis was finally settled last year, allowing Nemour to switch to an Algerian leotard and compete for her father’s country.
Since making the switch, Nemour has been on a high-speed ride to success. She won a silver medal on uneven bars at last year’s world championships, becoming the first gymnast representing an African nation to win a World medal. She’s also an African all-around champion and has an element named after her in the Code of Points.
Nemour’s massive score of 15.600 on Sunday’s women’s team qualifications was unmatched by any of her rivals, with only Simone Biles’ first vault score of 15.800 bettering her. She was consistent on all four events and is on course to qualify for the all-around final.
Despite her decision to compete for Algeria, Nemour received a huge ovation from the crowd at the Bercy Arena after completing her highly difficult bars routine Sunday. When asked about the crowd’s reaction, Nemour said, "I was super happy, I did not necessarily expect it." She added that she felt both French and Algerian on the day, with fans from both countries wowed by her scintillating display.
If Nemour wins a medal next week, it will be a historic moment for Algeria, as no African nation has ever claimed an Olympic gymnastics medal before. With her talent, determination, and Algerian leotard, Nemour is ready to make her mark on the world stage.
