Nawal El Moutawakel

MARWomen

Birth dateApr 15, 1962

BirthplaceCasablanca, Morocco

Height1.62 m

Weight-

Nawal El Moutawakel (Amazigh: ⵏⴰⵡⴰⵍ ⵍⵎⵓⵜⴰⵡⴰⵇⵇⵍ; Arabic: نوال المتوكل; 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 is the first Moroccan, Arab, African, and Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold.

She is currently a vice president of the International Olympic Committee In August 2024, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) voted her as the fourth best female athlete of the past 100 years after Serena Williams, Nadia Comăneci and Simone Biles.

In August 2024, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) voted her as the fourth best female athlete of the past 100 years after Serena Williams, Nadia Comăneci and Simone Biles In 2007, El Moutawakel was named the Minister of Sports in the upcoming cabinet of Morocco.

Key facts

400 m hurdles

54.61

#159 all-time

400 m

51.70

#803 all-time

2022 season best

59.23

Jun 26, 2022 · Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR)

2022 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 gold

Age

64 years old

As of Sep 26, 2026: 400 m hurdles 54.61 (#159 all-time), 400 m 51.70 (#803 all-time), 2022 season best 59.23 (Jun 26, 2022, Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold · 64 years old

Personal bests

11.92

51.70

14.85

54.61

4x100m

46.15

4x400m

3:36.86

500Metres

1:11.2HT

500m-short-track

1:11.2HT

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	1	-	-	1

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
2022	400m	59.23	-	Jun 26, 2022	↓	Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR)
1987	400m	51.70	-	Apr 25, 1987	↓	Des Moines, IA (USA)
1987	400mH	55.21	-	Jul 14, 1987	↑	Zagreb (CRO)
1986	500m-short-track	1:11.2h	-	Jan 25, 1986	-	Minneapolis, MN (USA) (i)
1986	500Metres	1:11.2h	-	Jan 25, 1986	-	Minneapolis, MN (USA) (i)
1985	400mH	55.59	-	Sep 2, 1985	↑	Kobe (JPN)
1985	4x400m	3:36.86	-	Oct 4, 1985	-	Bruce Stadium, Canberra (AUS)
1984	400m	51.80	-	May 12, 1984	↓	Lincoln, NE (USA)
1984	400mH	54.61	-	Aug 8, 1984	↑	Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1983	100mH	14.85	-3.1	Aug 12, 1983	-	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
1983	400mH	56.52	-	Aug 8, 1983	↑	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
1981	100m	11.92	+0.1	Sep 5, 1981	-	Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA)
1981	4x100m	46.15	-	Sep 6, 1981	-	Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA)

2022

1 performance

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	59.23	-	Jun 26	3ème Meeting Fédéral, Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat - U20 Events

1987

14 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400mH	56.28	-	Sep 21	Latakia Mediterranean Games, Latakia
400mH	57.21	-	Sep 4	IAAF World Championships
400m	DNS	-	Sep 4	IAAF World Championships
400mH	57.21	-	Aug 31	IAAF World Championships
400mH	55.38	-	Jul 22	Roma Golden Gala, Roma
400mH	55.21	-	Jul 14	Zagreb Universiade, Zagreb
400mH	59.93	-	Jul 6	Algiers Pan Arab Championships, Algiers
400mH	56.09	-	Jun 30	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
400mH	56.43	-	Jun 13	Dijon
400m	51.70	-	Apr 25	Des Moines Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA
400mH	56.16	-	Apr 24	Des Moines Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA
400m	52.97	-	Apr 18	Lawrence Kansas Relays, Lawrence, KS
400mH	55.66	-	Apr 4	Tempe, AZ
400m-short-track	DNS	-	Mar 6	IAAF World Indoor Championships, Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, IN (i)

1986

1 performance

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
500m-short-track	1:11.2HT	-	Jan 25	Minneapolis, MN (i)

1985

3 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400mH	56.05	-	Oct 4	Canberra IAAF World Cup, Bruce Stadium, Canberra
4x400m	3:36.86	-	Oct 4	Canberra IAAF World Cup, Bruce Stadium, Canberra
400mH	55.59	-	Sep 2	Kobe Universiade, Kobe

1984

10 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400mH	54.61	-	Aug 8	The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
400mH	55.65	-	Aug 6	The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
400mH	56.49	-	Aug 5	The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
400mH	55.71	-	Jul 2	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
400m	51.80	-	May 12	Lincoln, NE
400mH	55.75	-	May 12	Lincoln, NE
400m	51.84	-	Apr 28	Des Moines Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA
400mH	55.37	-	Apr 27	Des Moines Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA
400mH	55.76	-	Apr 21	Lawrence Kansas Relays, Lawrence, KS
400mH	56.57	-	Apr 6	Austin, TX

1983

7 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400mH	56.59	-	Sep 12	Casablanca Mediterranean Games, Casablanca
400mH	56.52	-	Aug 14	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
400mH	57.10	-	Aug 14	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
100mH	14.85	-3.1	Aug 14	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
100mH	14.85	-3.1	Aug 12	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
400mH	57.10	-	Aug 9	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
400mH	56.52	-	Aug 8	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki

1981

2 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
4x100m	46.15	-	Sep 6	Roma IAAF World Cup, Stadio Olimpico, Roma
100m	11.92	+0.1	Sep 5	Roma IAAF World Cup, Stadio Olimpico, Roma

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Nawal El Moutawakel's 400 m hurdles personal best?

Nawal El Moutawakel's 400 m hurdles personal best is 54.61, set on Aug 8, 1984 in Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA (USA), #159 on the all-time list.

Which events does Nawal El Moutawakel compete in?

Nawal El Moutawakel competes in the 400 m hurdles and 400 m.

How did Nawal El Moutawakel perform in 2022?

2022 season best: 59.23, set on Jun 26, 2022 in Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR).

How many medals has Nawal El Moutawakel won?

Nawal El Moutawakel has won 1 Olympic Games medal.

Nawal El Moutawakel

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

2022

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1981

Honours

Frequently asked questions