Good News In History, August 8
Good News In History, August 8 41 years ago today, Nawal El Moutawakel, the Amazigh-Moroccan athlete, became the first Moroccan, and the first woman from a Muslim nation to win Olympic gold when she finished top in the 400-meter hurdle event. A member of the IOC, and Minister of Sport for Morocco, she was a pioneer for Muslim and African athletes in that she confounded long-held beliefs that women of such backgrounds could not succeed in athletics. READ about her career after the games… (1984) Nawal El Moutawakel – CC 2.0. Agência Brasil Fotografias King Hassan II telephoned El Moutawakel after she won to personally congratulate her, adding that every girl born on that day would be named in her honor. In 1993 she started a 5 km run for women in Casablanca that has since become the biggest women’s race held in a Muslim-majority country, with up to 30,000 who came to run. She has held positions at the IOC, the World Athletics Association, and in delegations of Morocco to various sporting eve…