Morocco’s Nawal Al-Moutawakel Vice President-International Olympic Committee, believes sports can change the lives of women. “Just like the gold medal and less than a minute of time changed my life, other women’s lives could change as well if they could face and beat the challenges and hurdles ahead.” Photo: Al-Ahram Weekly
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* During a recent brief visit to Cairo, International Olympic Committee Vice President Nawal Al-Moutawakel bares her soul to Inas Mazhar as she recalls her days of glory. In 1984, the Moroccan track star, who attended and competed at Iowa State University on athletic scholarship, became the first Moroccan, Arab and Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the history of the Olympic Games. *
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After winning gold in Los Angeles at the 1984 Olympics.
Al-Ahram Weekly, by Inas Mazhar (Cairo, Egypt, April 24, 2014) — In 1984, the 400-metre women’s hurdles race was introduced for the first time in the program of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Morocco’s Nawal Al-Moutawakel became the first Moroccan, Arab and Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the history of the Olympic Games. She stood on the podium after receiving her gold medal with tears pouring from her eyes while the Moroccan national anthem was being played. She was 19 years old and already the African and Arab champion. Her tears caught the imagination of viewers all over the world, as people pondered whether those were tears of joy, of sorrow, or a mixture of both. During her recent 24-hour visit to Cairo, she finally shared her feelings on that decisive day and explained how she made it to the final and how she managed to beat the world’s best athletes and win the race against all odds.
“My tears were for my father who had passed away months before I achieved my Olympic glory. As much as I was happy for winning, I really wanted him to be there because it was because of him that I practiced athletics and ran and became Morocco’s, Arab and African champion. My achievements earned me a scholarship from the Iowa State University in the United States. At that time, it was unusual for a girl to travel alone. I was 18 and it took a long time to convince my father that it was important for my sports career to go on that scholarship and receive an education as well,” she reminisced. Nawal was the second of five children. Her parents, who both worked in banks, had a sports background. Her father a judo athlete and her mother a volleyball player, they were keen that all five of their children did track and field. Even though her siblings were all runners, it was Nawal who rose to stardom.
Today, she encourages other Muslim and Arab women to excel in the field of athletics.
“My Dad saw me off to the airport. I never saw him again. He died in an accident. Nobody told me about it for three months. Communications were difficult then and cost a lot and I had to go for long distances to send a telegram or a telex. We didn’t have a phone at home. It was three months later that I received a call from someone in another state who told me my brother was with him and he was bringing him to see me. That was when I knew about my father,” she said. Eight months later, the Olympics began and Al-Moutawakel passed all the qualifications, successfully moving from one stage to another and breaking records as she progressed in her race. “I ran nervously. I was very angry. I ran for my father,” she revealed. In addition to her family’s support, Al-Moutawakel attributes her success and winning the Olympic gold to her American coaches. “I never believed I could win that race despite winning the heats. I was not used to racing in front of thousands of fans at such a huge place as the Los Angeles Stadium. But it was my coaches who believed in me and knew I could do it, especially the American coach,” she said. “On the eve of the final race, I was training at the stadium. After training, my coach told me I would win the race and should now practice standing on the podium and receiving the gold medal. I was stunned.”
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Morocco’s Nawal Al-Moutawakel on the podium to receive her medal, the first Moroccan, Arab and Muslim woman to win Olympic gold in the history of the Olympic Games.
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