Nayel Nassar (born January 21, 1991) is an Egyptian American professional equestrian.[1]

Nayel Nassar
Nassar at the Global Champions League in Hamburg, 2019
Born (1991-01-21) January 21, 1991 (age 33)
Chicago, United States
Nationality
  • American
  • Egyptian
Alma materStanford University (AB)
SpouseJennifer Gates (m. 2021)

Early life and education

edit

Nayel Nassar was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Egyptian parents, Fouad Nassar and Iman Harby, founders and managers of the Kuwaiti architectural firm Diwan Interiors International.[2][3]

Nassar grew up in Kuwait before moving to the United States in 2009 at the age of 18. He attended Stanford University and graduated in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in economics.[2]

Career

edit

Nassar began riding at the age of five and specialized in show jumping by the age of ten. He has qualified for the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) Show Jumping World Cup Finals in 2013, 2014, and 2017, as well as the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014. In addition, he competed in the Longines FEI World Cup Finals held in Paris and is a regular participant in the international Grand Prix circuit.

Nassar took home the $400,000 Longines Grand Prix of New York, the grand finale of the Longines Masters of New York. He is the first rider to win the Longines Speed Challenge and the Longines Grand Prix at the same event and the first to do it with the same horse.[4]

In 2012, he won the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Nassar qualified for the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) Show, Jumping World Cup Finals in 2013, 2014, and 2017, and the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014. In addition, he competed at the Longines FEI World Cup Finals in Paris. Also, he regularly competes on the international Grand Prix circuit.[5]

In February 2019, he won the cup at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Wellington after he finished the race in 38.15 seconds. In 2012, he won the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series at the Winter Equestrian Festival. He represented Egypt at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Career highlights include: 1st place on Lordan – Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Las Vegas; 1st place – Las Vegas National Horse Show Winning Round CSI 3; 1st place – Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Del Mar; 7th place – Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Langley; 2nd place – Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Valkenswaard CSI 5; 2019 LGCT Hamburg Silver Medalist; 1st place – New York Masters CSI 5 (5-star) Grand Prix; 1st place – Rabat CSIO4 Designated Olympic Qualifier.[6]

In August 2021, Nassar qualified for the Final of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with no penalties, riding his Best horse Igor at Equestrian Park.[5] He participated in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games for Egypt, participating in the Individual Equestrian Jumping finals; he came in 24th place, receiving no Olympic medal.[7]

Nassar was supposed to represent the Egyptian Equestrian team in the 2024 Paris Olympics Equestrian competition however he had to withdraw before the competition because his horse did not pass the second veterinarian inspection. (6)

Nassar established his stables back in 2015 and called them Nthemsar Stables. The stables are located in Southern California. The business is based in the city of Encinitas in San Diego County.[5]

Personal life

edit

In January 2020, Nayel Nassar became engaged to Jennifer Gates, the eldest daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and philanthropist Melinda French Gates.[8] The couple married on October 16, 2021, in Westchester County, New York.[9]

On March 4, 2023, they welcomed their first child, a daughter.[10] In June 2024, they announced they were expecting their second child.[11]

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Equestrian NASSAR Nayel – Tokyo 2020 Olympics". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b Leung, Yasmine (15 October 2021). "Who are Nayel Nassar's parents as Jennifer Gates joins the family?". The Focus. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. ^ Macon, Alexandra (18 October 2021). "Jennifer Gates Wore Vera Wang Haute for Her Wedding to Nayel Nassar". Vogue. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  4. ^ Abuseif, Fatima (30 April 2019). "Breaking Records!". Emirates Woman. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Nayel Nassar qualified for the Final of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and Here are 10 Facts You Didn't Know About Him!". El-Shai. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Longines Global Champions Tour". Global Champions Tour. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Olympic Schedule and Results". Olympics.com. 4 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. ^ Martin, Annie (30 April 2020). "Bill Gates' daughter Jennifer is engaged". UPI. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  9. ^ Pasquini, Maria (16 October 2021). "Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates' Daughter Jennifer Marries Equestrian Nayel Nassar". People. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Bill Gates and Melinda Gates' Daughter Jennifer Gives Birth, Welcomes Family's First Grandchild". E! Online. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  11. ^ Miller, Brittany (27 June 2024). "Bill Gates' daughter Jennifer is pregnant with second child". The Independent. Retrieved 4 September 2024.