MoroccoBiography
Morocco's two-time World champion and African record holder hurdler. Followed by footsteps on another great, Nawal El Mutawakel, Nezha attracted all attentions first in Medterranean Games in 1987, came fifth in 100m hurdles final. A year later, she made 200/100H double in Moroccan Champs, then get first continental victory in 1990 African Champs over 400m hurdles. After this win, she focused on 400m hurdles and progressed 57.14 to 52.90 in nine-season.
Nezha Bidouane showed her versatily in Latakia at the 1992 Pan Arab Games as winning seven-gold medals in five-days competition, which is still stands one of the world-best athletics achievements in such level contest.
She beat Olympic champion Deon Hemmings in World Champs 1997 final in Athens where broke African record with 52.97, then repeated her achievement four years later in Edmonton. Including a silver in Seville, Bidouane is second bemedalled Moroccan athlete in World Championships with three medals behind Hicham El Guerrouj who owns six. She also crowned 16 national titles in home country from 100 metres to 400 hurdles.
Her illustrous career ended after Athens Olympics where she became flagbearer of Morocco at the Opening ceremony.
PERSONAL BESTS
100 metres: 12.08 (1991)
200 metres: 23.29 (1998)
400 metres: 51.67 (1998)
400m hurdles: 52.90 (1999)
400m indoor: 53.57 (1997)
NOTES
♦ Has two son: Yacine (born 2002), Yassir (2007).
♦ In 2008, Selected amongst of Africa's best athletes in CAA.
♦ Coached by Aziz Daouda nearly all-career long briefly worked with Nawal El Mutawakel in 1993, but it lasted very short.
♦ Has unique tecnique over the hurdle. Several sport scientists studies on Bidouane's hurdling in France.
♦ Frequenly appeared front line and outspoken over Women's right issues in Morocco.