Nassar elected to withdraw from the Olympic Games

Nassar elected to withdraw from the Olympic Games (Image: Instagram)

Nayel Nassar, husband to Jennifer Gates and an accomplished equestrian rider, announced that he will pull out of the Olympic Games this summer after his horse suffered an injury

Nassar elected to withdraw from the Olympic Games

Nassar elected to withdraw from the Olympic Games (Image: Instagram)

Nayel Nassar, the son-in-law of tech billionaire Bill Gates, was forced to withdraw from the Olympic Games on Saturday.

The 34-year-old equestrian athlete, who is married to Gates’ daughter Jennifer, explained in an Instagram statement that his decision came based on a medical evaluation of his horse, Colorado.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce our withdrawal from the 2024 Olympic Games,” Nassar wrote on Instagram. “After successfully passing the first veterinary inspection earlier this week, Coronado unfortunately sustained a minor injury in the days after, and regretfully we must end our Olympic journey here.

“This decision was made after thorough discussions with our veterinary team and the Egyptian Federation, and we all agree that it is our duty to prioritize Coronado’s long-term health and recovery. As per the rules, no substitutions are allowed after the first horse inspection is completed, which leaves us no option but to withdraw entirely.”

Nassar was born in Chicago but spent the majority of his childhood in the Arabian Gulf state of Kuwait, where his Egyptian parents owned the architecture firm Diwan Interiors International. Introduced to the sport at a young age, Nassar began riding at five years old and competing in jumping competitions at 10 before returning to the United States at 18 to attend Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

He graduated from the prestigious university in 2013 with a degree in economics but instead saw his equestrian career take off. The year prior, Nassar won the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series, and went onto feature in the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) Jumping World Cup Finals in 2013, 2014, and 2017.

Nassar most notably became the first rider to win the Longines Speed Challenge and Grand Prix at the same event and with the same horse in 2019. He also gained Olympic experience in Tokyo last time out, helping Team Egypt qualify for the Equestrian Games for the first time in 61 years, where the final round of the competition but ultimately finished medalless in 24th.

Nassar competed in the 2021 Olympics
Nassar competed in the 2021 Olympics ( Image: Getty Images)

A year after Nassar departed fro Stanford, Gates enrolled as an undergraduate to pursue a BA in Human Biology. The pair bonded over a shared love of horses and officially began dating in 2018, announcing their engagement two years later.

“Nayel Nassar, you are one of a kind,” Gates wrote on Instagram. “Absolutely swept me off my feet this past weekend, surprising me in the most meaningful location over one of our many shared passions,” she wrote. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives learning, growing, laughing and loving together. Yes a million times over. AHHH!!!”

Nassar and Gates welcomed their first child together in 2023, a girl, and are currently expecting a second in the near future. Gates is currently working as a medical resident at Mt. Sinai in New York City.