# Nouria Mérah-Benida

> athletics competitor

**Wikidata**: [Q234986](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234986)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouria_Mérah-Benida)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nouria-merah-benida

## Summary
Nouria Mérah-Benida is an Algerian middle-distance runner who won the gold medal in the 1500 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She is one of Algeria's most accomplished female athletes in track and field.

## Biography
- Born: October 19, 1970
- Nationality: Algerian
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Olympic gold medalist in 1500 meters
- Employer(s): Not specified in source material
- Field(s): Athletics (middle-distance running)

## Contributions
Nouria Mérah-Benida's primary contribution to athletics was winning the gold medal in the 1500 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This victory made her the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics. Her Olympic triumph represented a significant achievement for Algerian sports and women's athletics in North Africa.

## FAQs
What is Nouria Mérah-Benida known for?
Nouria Mérah-Benida is known for winning the gold medal in the 1500 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, making her the first Algerian woman to achieve this feat in athletics.

When did Nouria Mérah-Benida win her Olympic gold medal?
She won her Olympic gold medal on September 29, 2000, at the Sydney Olympic Games in Australia.

What distance did Nouria Mérah-Benida specialize in?
Nouria Mérah-Benida specialized in middle-distance running, specifically the 1500 meters event.

## Why They Matter
Nouria Mérah-Benida matters because she broke new ground for Algerian women in athletics by becoming the first female Olympic gold medalist from her country. Her victory at the 2000 Sydney Olympics inspired a generation of Algerian and North African female athletes and demonstrated that women from the region could compete at the highest levels of international athletics. Her achievement helped elevate the profile of women's sports in Algeria and the broader Arab world.

## Notable For
- First Algerian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics
- Gold medalist in the 1500 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics
- Represented Algeria in international middle-distance running competitions
- Achieved personal best of 4:05.76 in the 1500 meters

## Body
### Early Life and Background
Nouria Mérah-Benida was born on October 19, 1970, in Algeria. Growing up in the North African country, she developed an interest in athletics during her youth, though specific details about her early training and development are not provided in the source material.

### Athletic Career
Mérah-Benida specialized in middle-distance running, competing primarily in the 1500 meters event. Middle-distance running typically covers distances between 800 meters and 3000 meters, requiring a combination of speed and endurance. Her personal best time in the 1500 meters was 4:05.76, which she achieved during her competitive career.

### Olympic Achievement
The pinnacle of Mérah-Benida's athletic career came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. On September 29, 2000, she won the gold medal in the women's 1500 meters final. This victory was particularly significant as it made her the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics. Her Olympic triumph came at a time when women's participation in sports was still developing in many parts of the Arab world.

### National Impact
Mérah-Benida's Olympic gold medal had a profound impact on Algerian sports. As a female athlete representing Algeria on the world stage, she became a role model for young women in her country and throughout North Africa. Her success helped challenge stereotypes about women's capabilities in athletics and contributed to the growing recognition of women's sports in Algeria.

### International Recognition
While the source material doesn't provide extensive details about her international competitions beyond the Olympics, her Olympic gold medal automatically established her as one of Algeria's most successful athletes internationally. Olympic champions typically receive recognition from their national sports federations and often become ambassadors for their sport and country.

### Legacy
Nouria Mérah-Benida's legacy extends beyond her athletic achievements. As a pioneer for Algerian women in athletics, she helped pave the way for future generations of female athletes from her country. Her Olympic victory remains one of the most celebrated moments in Algerian sports history and continues to inspire athletes in Algeria and the broader Arab world.

## References

1. World Athletics database
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013