Nawal El Moutawakel’s most notable achievement is winning the gold medal in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Former Moroccan Olympic champion Nawal El Moutawakel was elected Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the 142nd IOC session in Paris on Wednesday.
El Moutawakel, alongside Argentinian Gerardo Werthein, will begin their terms on August 10, following the conclusion of the 142nd session. They will succeed Australia’s John Coates and Singapore’s Ser Miang Ng, whose terms are ending, according to an IOC statement.
El Moutawakel previously held this position from 2012 to 2016 and has served on the IOC Executive Board during two terms, from 2008 to 2012 and from 2020 to 2023.
She made history as the first Moroccan and Arab woman to win an Olympic gold medal, achieving this feat in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
In addition, El Moutawakel dominated the Moroccan national championships in the 100m, 200m, and 400m hurdles in the late 1970s and was a top competitor in the Arab region for the same events. She claimed the African championship in the 400m hurdles in 1983 and won the US championship in the same event in 1984.
She also earned gold medals at the Mediterranean Games in 1983 and 1987 and secured a bronze medal at the World University Games in 1985, followed by another gold medal in 1987.
Her contributions to sports have been significant, including her involvement in various Olympic committees and promoting women’s participation in athletics globally.
Born on April 15, 1962 in Casablanca, El Moutawakel pursued athletics at a young age and quickly rose to prominence. Her success on the track paved the way for her to become a prominent figure in international sports administration.
Beyond her administrative roles, she has been an outspoken advocate for promoting women’s participation in sports and has been involved in various initiatives to support athletes worldwide.
source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)
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Former Moroccan Olympic champion Nawal El Moutawakel
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MOROCCO