Yassmine Baccar

Happy birthday to Tunisia’s sprinter Yassmine Baccar, who won a national title and qualified as a teacher in the same twelve months.

In July last year, at the Stade olympique de Radès, Yassmine took first place over 200m and third over 100m at the Tunisian Championships. Her own post about it ended the way athletes end good seasons: saison terminée avec fierté. Season finished with pride.

Two months earlier she had finished something else. She graduated from the Institut Supérieur du Sport et de l’Éducation Physique in Sfax with a **mention très bien** and an average of 16.23 out of 20, qualifying as a teacher of physical education. And not only that. In the same announcement she listed three further certifications: strength and conditioning coach at second degree, fitness coach, and coach in preschool physical activity. Four qualifications, alongside a national championship season.

She has since taken all of it abroad. Yassmine now works as a personal trainer for Enhance Fitness in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and her Instagram bio opens with two flags: the Tunisian one and the Saudi one. It is a fairly remarkable arrangement for someone who is still racing for Tunisia. Athletes are constantly told to build something for after the sport. She has built it during.

عيد ميلاد سعيد يا ياسمين، وعقبال سنوات قادمة من التميز! Joyeux anniversaire, Yassmine! 🎂🎁🎉🫶🫶🇹🇳