As the Olympic Games prepare to commence in Paris, twenty-nine-year-old equestrian Noor Slaoui is set to make history. Slaoui will become the first Moroccan female rider to compete in the Eventing discipline, a notable achievement for Morocco, Africa, and the Arab world.
Eventing, a rigorous equestrian competition, involves a single horse and rider competing across three disciplines: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. Slaoui’s participation is groundbreaking, as she is the only Arab athlete to have qualified in this discipline and the first Moroccan rider to compete internationally in the sport.
“I’m just super happy and super honoured to be representing Morocco, Africa, and the Arab countries in the Olympics. It is just a dream come true for me,” Slaoui expressed with excitement.
Noor’s passion for horses began at a very young age. Her family, enthusiastic hikers, often took her trekking on mules in the High Atlas mountains. “I started riding very early, as early as four years old, but I really began competing when I was 19,” she recounted. The journey was challenging initially due to her limited exposure and knowledge of the sport. “I had to read through the rule book and just give it a go. I quickly realized it was a lot harder than I thought. So, I started riding and training with top-level competition riders to learn how they work.”
A significant part of her journey includes her special bond with her horse, Cash in Hand, who will accompany her to Paris. The pair began riding together when Slaoui was still learning the competition ropes. Despite having many plans for Cash, she believes in maintaining their current routine, which has proven successful so far. “I need to get a qualifying result, as do all the participants in the Olympics, and then I have two other preparations that I need to do,” she stated.
With the Paris Olympics marking her first senior championships, Slaoui views the competition as a crucial stepping stone for her future in the sport. “I’m hoping to get a lot of exposure and to just learn a lot from this experience to build on it in the future,” she said.
As Noor Slaoui prepares to take on this historic challenge, she not only represents her country but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring equestrians across Africa and the Arab world.
