Moroccan equestrian to become first Arab and North African to compete in eventing at Olympics

Morocco’s Noor Slaoui is preparing to become the first person from the Middle East and North Africa to participate in the Olympic sport of eventing– a triathlon that combines dressage, cross country and show-jumping.

The equestrian developed her love of horses in her native Morocco where she often hiked with her family near Casablanca accompanied by horses and donkeys.

Her journey to Olympic hopeful began when she moved to France at the age of 18 to join a national horse-riding school. She then relocated to England to attend the University of Warwick. Living in the Cotswolds gave her access to the sport of eventing.

“I would drive past these big horse shows like Badminton – the pinnacle of the sport for us in eventing – and I just loved it,” she told the BBC.

Slaoui credits her mother, a paraplegic who founded an organization that helps women rehabilitate after sustaining injuries that have left them in a wheelchair, for her drive.

“For me, growing up in that environment, to see that truly anything is possible, really helped me,” she said.

She also acknowledged Moroccan women for providing inspiration.

“In Morocco, women are not scared – we are very curious. And once we find something we love, we just go for it.”

Slaoui will be competing with her horse named “Cash in Hand” at the Chateau de Versailles at the Paris Olympics starting on July 27^th.