Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist Kaylia Nemour has advanced to three finals at the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, taking place at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta.

The Algerian gymnast qualified for the all-around, uneven bars, and balance beam finals.

In the uneven bars — her signature event — the 18-year-old topped the qualification round with 15.533 points, finishing well ahead of China’s Fan Yumei (14.566) and Russia’s Angelina Melnikova, who placed third.

Uneven bars has been Nemour’s specialty, the event in which she won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Since switching nationality from France to Algeria in 2022, Nemour has collected an impressive list of medals, including silver at the World Championships in Antwerp two years ago.

With her growing list of achievements, is Nemour feeling the weight of expectations at this year’s World Championships in Jakarta? And, how is gymnastics development in Algeria?

Here’s an interview with Kaylia Nemour, conducted by the LOC Media Team:

How did it feel to be the first African gymnast to win an Olympic medal? Pure joy, or was there pressure too?

It's really a huge pride. I didn't think one day [I will] write a story like this, and to represent Algeria at every competition. It is really good for me. [Do I ] feel a little pressure? Yes, of course it was an incredible experience. For me, I would have thought to do this championship one day and represent a country is just extraordinary. So, I am very happy.

Can you tell us a bit about gymnastics in Algeria —the kind of support you get from the federation, community, or young gymnasts there?

It's true that already since the Olympics, gymnastics in Algeria is much, much developed. There are a lot of registrations, so just for that, I am extremely, extremely happy, and extremely proud. And, I have support, really extraordinary, from all the Algerian people.

What does it mean for you to represent Algeria against nations with strong gymnastics traditions?

Well, I think that's really, really good at gymnastics of high level, international, the World Cups, the Olympic Games, and World Championships. It’s, that in fact, we find well. Many countries and different levels and it allows maybe for the smallest level to take an example from the greatest. Even the opposite can see, maybe the gymnastics are a little more relaxed. By looking at other countries, we can always learn from each other.

What’s been the key to your progress over the past three years since moving to senior level?

There is no secret. it's the job, work, training and, and you have to have the desire.