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.

[1][2][3] In 2007, El Moutawakel was named the Minister of Sports in the upcoming cabinet of Morocco.

El Moutawakel was born in Casablanca, and was studying at Iowa State University[4] when she won her Olympic title, which came as a surprise in her home country.

King Hassan II of Morocco telephoned her to give his congratulations, and he declared that all girls born the day of her victory were to be named in her honor.

[9] El Moutawakel was one of the ambassadors of the Morocco 2026 FIFA World Cup bid.