Melinda French Gates is paying special attention to the Tokyo Olympics this week as her future son-in-law represents Eqypt in equestrian competition.
French Gates tweeted Tuesday about Nayel Nassar, the fiancé of her and Bill Gates’ oldest daughter, Jennifer Gates. French Gates said she was proud of the professional show jumper … and his horse, Igor.
I always love watching the Olympics. The #TokyoOlympics are particularly special because I get to cheer on my future son-in-law! We are so proud of you, Nayel (and Igor)! pic.twitter.com/tiGz5OMtnH
— Melinda French Gates (@melindagates) August 3, 2021
Nassar, 30, competed in the individual jumping event final this week and finished 24th. Ben Maher of Great Britain took the gold medal. On Instagram, Nassar said it was “not our day,” but he was happy with how comfortable he and Igor felt on “the biggest track of our lives.” He’ll be competing in the team competition later this week.
It’s the first time Eqypt’s equestrian team has qualified for the Olympics in 61 years.
Born in Chicago in 1991, Nassar’s website bio says he was raised by Egyptian parents in Kuwait. He began riding horses at five and has had success in international competitions.
He graduated from Stanford University with a degree in economics in 2013.
Gates, 25, also graduated from Stanford, with a degree in human biology in 2018, and she’s now pursuing a medical degree from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Gates and Nassar got engaged in January 2020 during a ski vacation and her Instagram is loaded with images of the couple and their shared love for horses.
Gates is also an equestrian competitor and is the founder of Evergate Stables, a Florida-based international show jumping stable. Nassar rides for Evergate’s team.
