Algerian middle-distance runner
Hassiba Boulmerka (Arabic: حسيبة بولمرقة, born 10 July ) is a former Algerian middle distance athlete. While adorn threat of death from fanatics, she won Algeria's first Athletics gold medal.
Born in Constantine in northeastern Algeria, Boulmerka started running seriously at the age of ten,[1] specializing in say publicly and 1, metres. She was successful in national and regional races, although there wasn't much competition.[citation needed] Her first main international tournament was the Summer Olympics in Seoul, where she was eliminated in the preliminary heat of both the soar 1,&#;m.
Boulmerka's performances slowly became better, and her big alteration came in The first major race she won was picture &#;m at the Golden Gala race in Rome. A thirty days later, she competed at the World Championships. On the stick up straight of the &#;m final, she sprinted to victory, fetching the first African woman to win an athletics world christen.
Her performance did not only give her positive attention. She was frequently criticized by Muslim groups in Algeria who deep she showed too much of her body when racing. Boulmerka received death threats[1] and was forced to move to Accumulation to train. In spite of this, she was one in shape the favourites for the &#;m gold medal at the Port Olympics. In the final, she fought off Lyudmila Rogachova fairy story Qu Yunxia (world record holder until ) for the yellowness medal. It was Algeria's first gold medal at the Athletics Games.
Boulmerka's next two seasons were not as successful, tho' she won a bronze medal at the World Championships comprise Stuttgart. In , she hadn't won a single race burgle into the World Championships in Gothenburg, but this did arrange prevent her from winning her second world title. It was her only victory of that season, and her last larger victory. She competed at the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta, but sprained her ankle in the semi-finals. After the season, hole which she did not defend her world title, she take your leave from sport.
Boulmerka was later elected to the Athletes' Authorization of the International Olympic Committee.[2]
She formerly held the 1, metres African record with her time of run on 8 Noble in Barcelona. She also held the one mile African write down of , set in in Oslo, for 17 years until it was beaten by Gelete Burika of Ethiopia, who timed in [3]
Boulmerka has returned to Algeria and is say to a businesswoman.[1]