Nezha
Bidouane to take a sabbatical
Mohammed Bencherif for the IAAF
28 March 2002 – Rabat, Morocco – Two time World Champion at 400 m
hurdles Nezha Bidouane has decided to take 2002 as a sabbatical year.
Bidouane, who is expecting her first child in a few months time told the Moroccan press agency MAP: “I have made a lot of sacrifices and deprived myself of many good things, particularly the happiness of being a mother, after eleven years of marriage and thirteen years of hard work representing my country and raising its flag on the international scene.”
Bidouane has decided to take 2002 off, as it is year when there is neither Olympics nor World Championships, and devote some time to her family and her private life.
To satisfy her desire to become a mother, she has decided to skip the African Championships, which stand as the qualifying trials for the World Cup in Athletics that will be held in Madrid next September. “I think that I have already honoured my country at the last edition in Johannesburg, where I won the 400 m hurdles title,” she says.
Bidouane, who was the first woman to win twice the 400m hurdles title (in 1997 and 2001), believes that she will be able to come back at the highest level after having a child. “Many athletes have been even better than before and have achieved great exploits (after motherhood),” she remarks.
But even though Bidouane will not compete herself, she will remain on the athletics scene as she continues to promote road races for women, on what has been baptized the “circuit of the future”.
“I want to continue to promote these events that are designed to develop women’s sport at the national level and to help Moroccan women show their potential.”
She also reaffirmed her commitment to another cause: that of the creation of a dedicated children’s cancer treatment centre: “Over the next two years, my biggest target is to create this service for children, especially the building of a cell transplant service.”
The double world champion has no plans to end her career until she will no longer be able to reach a place on the podium: “I will end my career whilst I am still at the top. It is my great passion and I still have an unbelievable enthusiasm for the sport.
“I am looking forward to the Athens Olympics, where I hope to end my career at the very top.”
Bidouane, who had to settle for a bronze medal in Sydney wants to take up a coaching career once she has finished competing. “I really want to succeed in forming new champions who will be even better than I am.”
Bidouane took up hurdling at the end of the Eighties at the national athletics school in Rabat, where she changed from gymnastics to athletics, becoming a leading figure on the track. She dedicates her success to her mother Fatima and her coach and manager, Aziz Daouda.
