Muthomi Ireri
Twenty-nine-year-old equestrian Noor Slaoui is set to make history at the Olympic Games in Paris next Friday, becoming the first Moroccan female rider to compete in Eventing. This discipline involves a single horse and rider competing in dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.
Noor is also the only Arab athlete to have qualified for Eventing and the first Moroccan to compete internationally in this sport. “I’m just super happy and super honored to be representing Morocco, Africa, and the Arab countries in the Olympics. It is just a dream come true for me,” she said.
Her passion for horses began at a very young age, fostered by family treks on mules in the High Atlas mountains. “I started riding as early as 4 years old, but began competing at 19,” she recalls. Initially, she struggled due to her limited exposure to the sport and lack of knowledge, having to learn by reading rule books and observing top-level competition riders.
Noor shares a special bond with her horse, Cash in Hand, who has been her partner since she began learning the competition ropes. She plans to keep their routine largely unchanged as they prepare for the Olympics. “I need to achieve a qualifying result like everyone else and have two other preparations to complete,” she noted.
With the Olympics being her first senior championships, Noor views this opportunity as a stepping stone for her future in the sport. “I’m hoping to gain a lot of exposure and learn from this experience to build on it in the future,” she said.
Dj Vnyash
Silverio Omari
