Dreams of Olympic glory came crashing down for Nayel Nassar and his beloved horse, Coronado. The talented equestrian’s misfortune damaged the anticipated trip for his girlfriend, Jennifer Gates, and her father, Bill Gates. The much-anticipated event took a sudden turn, leaving fans and family members alike in disbelief. The equestrian star’s journey at the 2024 Paris Olympics ended abruptly, not with a fall or a stumble, but with a heartfelt announcement on Instagram.

Nassar shared the news, revealing that Coronado sustained a minor injury after passing the first veterinary inspection earlier this week. “It is with a heavy heart that I announce our withdrawal from the 2024 Olympic Games. 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,” Nassar wrote.

The decision came after thorough discussions with his veterinary team and the Egyptian Federation. Nassar emphasized the importance of prioritizing Coronado’s long-term health and recovery. As per Olympic rules, no substitutions are allowed after the first horse inspection, forcing Nassar to withdraw entirely. “Our ultimate goal is to ensure that Coronado can return to peak form and once again compete at the highest levels, even if that means sacrificing the life-long dream of Olympic glory in the short term,” Nassar explained. He further showed his gratitude to all the support he got during his journey till now while ensuring that he had to take the step because of the welfare of his horse. With a promise of returning stronger, he congratulated all the remaining competitors.

Nayel Nassar started dating Jennifer Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates’ eldest daughter, in 2017. They got engaged in 2020 and married in October 2021. Last year, they welcomed their daughter, Leila. Recently, they announced they are expecting their second child. Nassar and Gates, both 28, are Stanford University graduates. Jennifer Gates had a successful equestrian career but didn’t compete for Team USA at the Olympics. Together, they run Evergate Stables, with locations in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and Wellington, Florida.

Bill Gates, 68, has been spotted at Olympic events in France. As the ninth richest person in the world, according to Forbes, he hopes to see his son-in-law compete for an Olympic medal. The equestrian events were started from the 27th July and since then, Bill Gates along with his girlfriend Paula Hurd cheered for their son-in-law. But Nayel Nassar’s early exit from the Paris Olympics was a crushing blow for him and his supporters.

However, this is not the first time that Bill has been spotted to attend an Olympics event as he witnessed the US men’s gymnastic team bag Bronze on July, 29, 2024 with more celebrities like Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Mick Jagger, Tom Cruise, and many more. But, the trip to the Paris Olympics of Bill, Melinda, and Jennifer totally ruined because of Nassar’s withdrawal from competing this time. But, her life-long cheerleader, his beloved wife, still showed her support by commenting under his Instagram post, “Gutted. The hardest but the right decision.❤️” This reflects how the entire family is with him during this hard time. 

Nayel Nassar’s Olympic journey: Past triumphs and trials

Nayel Nassar, son-in-law of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, was competing in the Paris Olympics. As part of Egypt’s equestrian team, Nassar aimed for a medal in show jumping. This was his second Olympics, having been part of Egypt’s first show jumping team in 60 years at the Tokyo Games. The 33-year-old has also represented Egypt at three FEI World Cup finals and the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Throughout his career, Nassar earned several big paydays, including three wins in the HITS $1 million Grand Prix at the Longines Masters.

Despite his successes, his earnings are small compared to his father-in-law’s $130.9 billion net worth. Coronado, Nassar’s horse, had shown mixed performances recently, jumping 1.60m ten times but still managing to win the Grand Prix. The prize money for the Grand Prix was more than double Coronado’s total earnings from 2015 to 2021, which was €355,227. Fans around the world were excited to see Nassar and Coronado perform at the historic Chateau de Versailles gardens during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Although Coronado passed the initial veterinary inspection earlier in the week, he failed upon a second look. The horse developed a bad patch on Thursday and was declared unfit for competition. Jennifer Gates, expecting their second child soon, took a break from work to support her husband at the Olympics. However, Nassar’s unexpected exit left her disappointed, overshadowing what was meant to be a joyful occasion. Now, everyone is hoping to see him in LA 2018 at his best.