All girls born in the country that day were named after her: Who is Nawal Al Moutawake?

Morocco!

The climate can be challenging at times. The temperature may exceed tolerances. However, a champion can be born under any circumstances. Nawal Al Moutawakel was born on April 15, 1962, in Casablanca. Running had become a passion for her from an early age.

One of her biggest advantages was that her family also supported him. When she was 16, she met French coach Jean François Coquand, who was in Casablanca at the time. Nawal had already become a champion athlete in Morocco. However, she did not have a coach, and Coquand was aware that she was facing a great talent. Thus, the duo began working together.

After Nawal started working with Coquand, she managed to establish a certain order and discipline. Thanks to this partnership, it was improving day by day. Moreover, Coquand's wife was also helping Nawal improve her French. The environment was conducive for a versatile athlete to train himself properly.

Two years after they started working together, Coquand came to Nawal with a suggestion and convinced her to focus on the 400-meter hurdles from now on. Nawal's dream was to take part in the Olympics. The 400-meter hurdles have never been run in the Olympics before in the women's category. She would be included in the games for the first time in 1984. In this case, there was time to prepare.

Nawal El Moutawakel (born 15 April 1962) is a Moroccan former hurdler, who won the inaugural women's 400 metres hurdles event at the 1984 Summer Olympics, and was the first Moroccan to win an Olympic gold. In 2007, El Moutawakel was named the Minister of Sports in the upcoming cabinet of Morocco.

Before the Olympics, Nawal competed in the African Championship and won the gold medal. During this period, she often went to Amiens, France, with Coquand and had the chance to work with better opportunities. However, a year before the Olympics, the Moroccan Athletics Federation ended Nawal's partnership with Coquand. After a while, Nawal started her education at Iowa State University in the USA.

When the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics began, Nawal was not the favorite in the 400-meter hurdles race, which was held for the first time. She herself thought that she could at least compete in the final and place in the top eight. However, their American coach wanted Nawal to believe in himself. They were trying to increase her self-confidence and they would be successful in this.

“This is the time, this is the city. You can't miss this opportunity. "You cannot leave this country, this city empty-handed."

The above words remained in Nawal's ears until the 400-meter hurdles competition started. The crowd in the stadium was intimidating for a moment. But to tell the truth, there was no pressure on her from the audience. Because she wasn't the favorite according to others. Therefore, she could go out there and surprise everyone in an instant.

Everyone took their places. Judy Brown, one of the favorites, was left a bit on the outside lane. This could turn out to be a disadvantage for him. Nawal was very happy with her place. She was in one of the middle lanes and was in a position to easily control where everyone was. The start was given, but one of the athletes had made a wrong start. Nawal doubted himself. At that point, she could not tolerate even the slightest mistake, even if it was compensable. She was relieved to later learn that another athlete had made the false start.

Large crowds spilled onto the streets in Morocco. The King of Morocco Nawal congratulated her personally and said that all girls born in the country that day would be named after him. It's hard to know how much of this part of the work took place. But there was one truth: Nawal was now an Olympic champion.

Nawal Al Moutawakel managed to become the first athlete from a Muslim country to win a gold medal. This was also the first gold medal awarded in the women's 400-meter hurdles category.

Nawal, who did not leave sports after completing her career, has been a sports manager in her own country for many years and has held high-level positions in the Olympic Committee.