CHANGE-MAKERS
While individuals may encounter difficulties in life simply because of their gender, skin colour, religion or country of origin, the Games, with the diversity of the athletes who take part, champion the right to be different. Participating at the Games may not change the world, but it can certainly help make a difference.
Nawal El Moutawakel (1984-01-01) by IOCThe Olympic Museum
NAWAL EL MOUTAWAKEL (MAR, ATHLETICS, IOC) - 1962- …
A series of firsts.
After Germany’s Lina Radke won the first-ever women’s 800m in 1928, and the USA’s Anita DeFrantz was part of the crew that took bronze in the first-ever women’s rowing eights in 1976, it was the Moroccan’s Nawal El Moutawakel’s turn to make Olympic history with her victory in the first-ever women’s 400m hurdles in 1984 in Los Angeles.
This provided the impetus for her to pursue a career in coaching and sports administration, both in her country and in international Olympic and sports governing bodies.
Member of various IOC commissions, including the Women and Sport Commission (1995-2010)
Member of the IOC Executive Board (2008-2012)
IOC Vice-President (2012-2016)
Her career and achievements have served and continued to serve as an example for generations of female Muslim athletes.
Overcoming hurdles, one after the other
Take a look at other inspiring Change-Maker portraits in our webdoc.
change-makers.blog-tom.com
Useful information about The Olympic Museum in Lausanne www.olympic.org/museum
