Hela Ayari is a professional judo coach and former Olympic athlete from Tunisia, currently leading the MAHD Elite Team at the MAHD Sports Academy in Saudi Arabia. Hela has over 10 years of coaching experience and holds a third dan black belt. Throughout her career, she has won numerous medals at Arab, African and other international events, establishing herself as one of the most prominent female judoka in the region.
Hela currently coaches the Saudi women’s judo team and the children of famous football figures in Saudi Arabia. One of the most interesting piece of information that was unveiled during the session is that among the children she is training are Cristiano Ronaldo's children. “That gives me invaluable experience and pride and I feel it is a major turning point in my career," said Hela.
She began training in judo as a young woman in Tunisia, driven by her passion for martial arts. The early stages were challenging, but with perseverance and the support of her coaches, she was able to progress. Some of her key achievements include:
- 1st place on the IJF junior world ranking list (-52 kg) in 2014
- Competing at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016
- Bronze medal at the Düsseldorf Grand Slam (-48 kg)
- 8-time African and 6-time Arab champion
- A bronze medallist at the Mediterranean Games in Turkiye.
When Hela moved to Saudi Arabia, women's judo was a relatively new concept. With hard work and support from the Saudi Judo Federation and the MAHD Academy, she was able to establish a strong foundation. Saudi women, under her leadership, have won numerous medals, making Hela proud of the progress achieved. Hela points out that discipline, resilience and leadership are the most valuable qualities she developed through judo. Her goal is to increase girls’ participation in the sport through awareness programmes, collaboration with schools and organising tournaments for girls. She promotes judo in schools across Saudi Arabia through the MAHD Academy, scouting for young talent and running judo programmes.
Hela also shares her thoughts on judo kata, "I consider kata essential in the teaching of discipline and fundamental techniques. By incorporating kata into early training, girls can build a strong technical foundation and gain confidence, making it an excellent way for them to start learning judo."
Hela is proud of her contributions to the development of women’s judo in Saudi Arabia. In the future she aims to develop a new generation of Saudi female athletes capable of competing internationally and reaching the Olympic stage and to be a source of inspiration for young athletes.
Hela Ayari is a true pioneer of women’s judo in Saudi Arabia, dedicated to developing the sport and inspiring future generations.