Two weeks after announcing her departure from the French national gymnastics team amid a wave of racist online abuse, Djenna Laroui has claimed her first title representing Algeria, winning the African team championship alongside her former French teammate Kaylia Nemour.
The victory marks a swift and symbolic turnaround for the 21-year-old gymnast, who left the French squad in early April after nearly a decade with Les Bleues. Her decision to switch allegiance to Algeria came shortly after she filed a formal complaint with French authorities over cyberharassment, racist insults, and incitement to hatred following the announcement of her change of national sports representation.
According to reports from the Algerian Gymnastics Federation and confirmed by multiple French sports outlets, Laroui contributed to Algeria’s gold-medal performance in the women’s team event at the African Championships. She shared the podium with Nemour, Louna Hamames-Moallic, Lena Khenoun, and Sihem Hamidi, securing Algeria’s qualification for the upcoming World Championships in Rotterdam later this year.
Individually, Laroui also earned a bronze medal in the all-around competition, finishing behind her teammate Nemour, who took the individual title. The double medal haul underscores Laroui’s immediate impact on the Algerian squad, which now looks to build on this momentum as it prepares for the global stage.
The African Championships result comes just weeks after Laroui’s emotional departure from the French team, where she had been a member since her teenage years. During her tenure with France, she earned bronze medals at both the European and World Championships in the team event, including a podium finish at the 2025 European Championships in Leipzig.
Her time with the French national program was not without controversy. In 2024, Laroui served a six-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, a period she has since described as challenging but formative. Despite that setback, she remained a consistent presence in the French setup until her decision to pursue competitive opportunities with Algeria.
In her public statement announcing the switch, Laroui expressed gratitude for her years with France while explaining that her future ambitions aligned more closely with the Algerian federation’s vision. “This idea has always been present in a corner of my mind,” she wrote in a social media post shared with her announcement. “I knew one day I would change my sports nationality… I just didn’t know when. Today, the opportunity presented itself and I decided to seize it.”
She added that the move was made “by conviction,” stating that she believes Algeria offers a better environment for her to grow as an athlete and pursue her long-term goals in the sport.
The switch has drawn attention not only for its competitive implications but also for the broader conversation it has sparked about identity, representation, and athlete autonomy in international gymnastics. Laroui’s case highlights the increasing fluidity in national team affiliations, particularly among athletes with dual heritage or complex personal connections to multiple nations.
Her experience also sheds light on the persistent issue of online abuse in sports. Following her announcement, Laroui became the target of a coordinated campaign of hate speech, prompting intervention from France’s National Pole for the Fight Against Online Hate (PNLH), which launched an investigation through the Central Office for the Fight Against Hate Crimes (OCLCH).
The Algerian Olympic Committee has welcomed Laroui and Nemour — who also recently switched from France to Algeria — as key additions to its gymnastics program. Both athletes are expected to play central roles in Algeria’s bid for historic results at the World Championships in Rotterdam and, the Olympic Games.
For Laroui, the African title represents more than a medal; it is a validation of her decision to prioritize her well-being and athletic integrity amid adversity. As she prepares for the next chapter of her career, her performance in Algiers has already answered one critical question: her talent and determination remain undiminished, regardless of the flag she wears.
The Algerian women’s gymnastics team will now turn its focus to the World Championships in Rotterdam, where they aim to make their first appearance as a qualified team. Laroui and Nemour will look to build on their African Championships success as they seek to establish Algeria as a rising force in international gymnastics.
What’s next for Djenna Laroui and the Algerian squad? The team will continue its preparation for the Rotterdam World Championships later this year, with specific dates and event schedules to be confirmed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Fans can follow updates through the FIG’s official website and the Algerian Olympic Committee’s communications channels.
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