MoroccoBiography
Won the inaugural women’s 400 meters hurdles event at the 1984 Summer Olympics, and was the inaugural female, Muslim, born in Africa, Moroccan to become an Olympic medalist (gold). She has a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Iowa State University (USA).
In 2007, she was named the Minister of Sports in the cabinet of Morocco. She is a Member of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (2008-2012 and from 2020), and she was the president of the evaluation commissions for the selection of the host city for the Summer Olympics of 2012 and 2016. She was the Vice-President of the IOC (2012-2016).
PERSONAL BESTS
100m: 11.92 (1981)
400m: 51.70 (1987)
100m Hurdles: 14.85 (1983)
400m Hurdles: 54.61 (1984)
4x100m: 46.15 (1981)
4x400m: 3:36.86 (1985)
TRIVIA
♦ She grew up loving sports; sports meant a lot to her. There were five children in her family—three brothers and one sister. Her mom and dad both practiced sports. Her dad did judo and mom played volleyball. (Women’s Running interview)
♦ She made history in 1984 when she became the first Moroccan, African and Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal. In the final, she led from start to finish and improved her personal best by 0.76 seconds. (olympic.org)
♦ Back in her hometown of Casablanca, her final was televised live at 2 a.m. When she took her victory lap carrying a huge Moroccan flag, people in Casablanca poured into the streets to celebrate. (olympic.org)
♦ Her accomplishment earned wide recognition in her home nation, resulting in the King of Morocco declaring that all girls born on the date of her victory were to be named in her honor. (Olympic report archive)
♦ In 1993 she started Courir pour le plaisir, a 5km run for women in Casablanca that has since become the biggest women’s race held in a Muslim country. Each year, up to 30,000 women run through the streets. “I wanted to bring women outside to feel the power of sports together. It’s like a mini-revolution,” says el-Moutawakel. “I have a very strong belief that sports can impact life forever. My life can be divided into the time before I won gold and the time after. Those 54.61 seconds totally changed my life.” (Financial Times Magazine interview)
♦ In 2006, she was one of the eight honored to bear the Olympic flag at the 2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Turin, Italy. On 26 July 2012, she carried the London Olympics torch through Westminster. (BBC)
♦ She was a founder member of the Laureus World Sports Academy and has been Vice Chair and Trustee of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. In 2010 she won the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award for her work for women in sport and the International Olympic Committee. (laureus.com)
♦ On December 21, 2017, she was awarded the National Order of the Southern Cross (Commander Class) by the Brazilian Government at a ceremony held in Rabat (Morocco). This is the highest honour that can be awarded by Brazil to foreign nationals to express the gratitude of the Brazilian nation. (olympic.org)
♦ She was one of the ambassadors of the Morocco bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The “United 2026” bid beat the rival bid of Morocco during a final vote at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow. The tournament will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries.
Text by Engin Eryigit for Athletics Podium