Nawal El Moutawakel

Moroccan, hurdler, born on 15 april 1962 in Casablanca, Morocco. A winner of the 1984 Olympic title, she was the first Muslim and African woman to do so.

Although she had been a quite accomplished runner, the victory of El Moutawakel, who studied at Iowa State University, was a surprise. The King of Morocco declared that all girls born the day of her victory were to be named in her honour. Her medal also meant the breakthrough for sporting women in Morocco and other muslim countries.

In 1995, she became a council member of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), and in 1998 she became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Nawal El Moutawakel is married with mr. Bennis and has two children.