French-Algerian gymnast Kaylia Nemour’s journey to compete at the 2023 African Artistic Gymnastics Championships was not easy by any means.
Less than two weeks before the championships, which are a qualifier for worlds and, subsequently, the Olympics, there was an ongoing fight for the former French national team member to compete for Algeria – her father’s home country. If she didn’t compete at the event in Pretoria, South Africa, her chances at Olympic berth would’ve been severely reduced, and not by any fault of her own.
The French Gymnastics Federation refused to allow her to change her sports nationality to Algeria before the year-long holding period was over. This holding period is implemented by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) unless the former national team releases the athlete, therefore allowing the athlete to switch nationalities and compete immediately. In this case, Nemour’s holding period was going on 10 months and would have ended in July 2023. Two more months, but the potential long-term repercussions were far greater.
“When a gymnast/athlete who has represented his/her country moves to another country and obtains nationality (citizenship) of the latter country, he may – with the consent of the two (2) Affiliated Member Federations concerned and the Executive Committee – immediately represent the new country. Where such consent is not granted, he may (with the consent of the Executive Committee) represent the new country one (1) year after the date of the positive decision made by the Executive Committee.”
International Federation of Gymnastics 2023 Statutes, Article 30, Appendix 2.1
Nemour’s story touched gymnastics fans around the world, resulting in outcries from fans, athletes, and coaches. An online petition gained traction, acquiring more than 6,000 signatures calling for the President of the French Gymnastics Federation, James Blateau, to release Nemour to Algeria.
While the public pressure kept the story at the forefront of the gymnastics world, it was a television program, where six former French national gymnasts came forward about abuse they experienced, that changed the course for Nemour.
After the program ran, the French Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Amelie Oudea-Castera, announced an investigation into the allegations and held a meeting with Blateau and others. Following this meeting, Nemour was released to Algeria, allowing her to compete in the worlds qualifier and keeping her Olympic dreams alive.
Nemour moved forward without missing a beat. The now Algerian gymnast had an impeccable performance on the uneven bars, earning an outstanding 15.066 and debuting a new skill that will be named after her: the inbar to Tkatchev layout (a new variation of the extremely difficult Nabieva).
Not only did she make a splash on bars, but she had a great all-around debut performance for Algeria and won the title with a 53.731. The 16-year-old earned a nominative world championship berth as an individual thanks to her performance and is one step closer to earning an Olympic berth at worlds in Antwerp later this year.
The gymnast was secretly training the skill that will furthermore be called “The Nemour” (G-value) at her club gym, Avoine-Beaumont. See the skill and watch her full set from the continental championships below.
