Africa's First World Champion on Uneven Bars: Kaylia Nemour's Historic Jakarta Triumph

Jakarta World Championships: Historic Moment for Africa

Kaylia Nemour, an 18-year-old Algerian gymnast, soared to a first-ever world title on the uneven bars at the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, posting 15.566 to lead a memorable final.

She edged out the silver medalist, Russia's Angelina Melnikova (who had won the all-around title the previous day), while China's Yang Fanyu took bronze. Nemour thus becomes the first African gymnast to win a world title on any apparatus.

A Challenging Path to the Peak

The Algerian standout delivered a near-flawless final routine on the bars, wearing her green leotard as she executed a demanding sequence with precision. The victory followed a fourth‑place finish in the all‑around, a setback she turned into fuel for the fire.

Earlier this year Nemour left her Avon training base to base in Dijon, citing years of perceived insults and intense control from former coaches as factors in her decision. She had already claimed Olympic glory on the same apparatus last year in Paris, giving Africa its first Olympic gold in gymnastics.

Looking Ahead

Nemour has emerged as one of the sport’s brightest stars, raising hopes for Africa’s future in gymnastics. Her Jakarta performance adds to a year of overcoming obstacles and rising on the world stage.

Punchline 1: Gravity filed a complaint after watching her routine—Nemour simply lifted it higher.

Punchline 2: If gymnastics were stand-up, she’d own the stage—she already made the bar jealous of how high she jumped.