A dream fulfilled: CS major Lais Najjar competes in Paris Olympics

Lais Najjar sailed into the Paris Olympics this summer, literally. Along with five other athletes representing Syria, he and his teammates cruised along the Seine in a wood-paneled yacht for the Opening Ceremony, taking in the sights and sounds of the massive celebration from their very own vessel.

Sandwiched between much larger teams, the Syrian cohort’s small size did not limit their enthusiasm, nor did the persistent drizzle dampen their spirits. They were buoyed by the cheers of the crowd, the glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower, and the shared excitement of fellow athletes from around the world.

For Lais, who is a U-M student athlete and a computer science major, participating in the Opening Ceremony was a moment he’ll never forget. “It was magical,” he said. “It felt like being in a movie.”

Lais’s Olympic journey started long before his cruise down the Seine, however. He was once just an active kid expending some extra energy in the gym.

Lais spent much of his childhood in Syria with his parents and two sisters. It was in the tumult and uncertainty of the Syrian civil war that his parents decided to move the family to the U.S., ultimately settling in the Chicago area. After the chaos subsided, he and his family returned to Syria frequently, with Lais spending most of his summers there.

“My household was and is still very much Syrian,” he said. “We speak Arabic at home and continue to practice all the traditions and customs.”

Describing himself as a “hyper” kid, Lais was first introduced to gymnastics at age seven, his parents desperate for an outlet for his excess energy.

A few years of practice solidified for Lais that gymnastics was something he was good at, and he dedicated himself to becoming a competitive athlete. Training at a high level was not without challenges, though. “I’ve broken pretty much every bone in my body at some point,” he admitted.

Lais also excelled at academics, thriving on a challenge both in the gym and in the classroom. His athletic and academic pursuits ultimately brought him to the University of Michigan, an institution he aspired to because of its reputation for excellence.

“Michigan does an unbelievable job of fostering a culture of excellence and leadership,” said Lais. “One look at the block M, and you just know.”

In addition to honing his gymnastics skills at an elite level, U-M has provided fertile ground for Lais to explore his intellectual interests.

“Even though I’m really ambitious athletically, academics is also a huge part of my life,” he said, “and Michigan was the best place for me to juggle those two passions.”

While he initially planned on being a business major, taking EECS 183: Elementary Programming Concepts completely changed his trajectory.

“I had taken a computer science class in high school, but didn’t really have my sights set on it,” he said. After a couple of EECS classes, however, he was hooked. “The rigor and the intellectual curiosity of the computer science program are unmatched, and it was an easy decision to continue down that path.”

Alongside his coursework, Lais’s journey as a collegiate athlete, while not without setbacks and injuries, has been extremely fruitful. He has competed in several high-profile events, including Big Ten and NCAA championships. He has also excelled internationally, placing first in the all-around and floor competition at the 2023 Arab Games, claiming second on vault and seventh on floor at the 2021 FIG World Challenge Cup in Cairo, Egypt, and competing at the 2022 FIG World Championships in Liverpool, England.

He didn’t know he would be adding the Olympic Games to his list of achievements until a couple months before their start. Despite his recent successes, advancing to the Olympics “always felt like a long shot,” said Lais. “All I could do was focus and perform my best.”

This focused approach paid off. His strong performance at the Arab Games ended up earning him a spot on the Syrian Olympic team, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Lais was awarded what is called a universality position, a spot reserved for athletes from countries that are traditionally underrepresented at the Olympic Games.

When he was notified that he had qualified for the Paris Olympics, Lais was in disbelief. “I don’t think it sunk in until I got to Paris and stepped into the Olympic Village.”

From the excitement of the Opening Ceremony to competing on the world’s biggest stage, Lais savored every moment of his time at the Paris Olympics. Despite injury, he was able to participate in four events and performed well in each. He was also lucky enough to share his triumph with his family, who traveled to Paris to support him.

“It was an amazing experience from start to finish,” he said. “I performed to the best of my ability, and I was so happy that my family was able to be there.”

One of the highlights of Lais’s time in Paris was being in the Olympic Village with other world-class athletes from across the globe. He was struck by the spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect that he encountered among other athletes.

“There was so much support and encouragement, especially among those of us representing smaller nations,” he said.

Being able to represent Syria at the Olympics was particularly impactful for Lais, and he hopes that his presence there will help encourage future generations of Syrian athletes.

“There are not a lot of athlete role models for kids in Syria to look up to,” said Lais. “My dream is to inspire and bring joy to the younger generation there, and help lift the country’s spirits.”

Lais also enjoyed sharing the Olympic experience with his fellow Michigan teammates Paul Juda and Fred Richards, who competed on the U.S. team.

“It’s truly a testament to the Michigan difference that we had three athletes in one sport there,” said Lais.

Another exciting takeaway from the Paris Olympics for Lais is all the attention men’s gymnastics received. Public enthusiasm—and memes—abounded after Team USA’s bronze medal finish, creating a surge in excitement about the sport that, for Lais, has been a long time coming.

He is optimistic about what this means for the future of the sport he loves. “Prior to the  Olympics, collegiate men’s gymnastics almost felt like a dying sport, with programs being cut and roster spots being limited instead of increased,” he described. “To see a new wave of people interested in men’s gymnastics gives me hope. It’s an amazing, artistic sport to watch, and we need to get it in front of more people.”

Now that he has returned from his Paris adventure as a newly minted Olympian, Lais is going into what is sure to be a busy senior year at U-M with optimism and excitement. He will be co-captain of the men’s gymnastics team, and is looking forward to a strong, competitive season. In addition to athletics, he will be serving as an instructional assistant for EECS 281: Data Structures alongside his normal coursework.

“I can’t wait to see what this year is going to bring, from school to athletics,” said Lais. “I really want to soak it in and challenge myself as much as possible.”