Btissam Lakhouad

Who is Btissam Lakhouad?

Btissam Lakhouad is a Moroccan middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres. She represented her country at the Summer Olympics in 2008. She was fourth at the World Championships in Athletics in 2011 and has won medals at the Mediterranean Games and the African Championships in Athletics.

A Khouribga native, she competed in the 1500 m at both the 2007 and 2008 World Athletics Finals, finishing in sixth and eleventh place, respectively. She represented Morocco at the 2008 Summer Olympics and, after finishing third in her heat, she qualified for the final of the competition. She finished in last place however, two places behind teammate Siham Hilali. She improved her 1500 m best to 4:03.23 minutes at the 2009 Herculis meet in Monaco and went to be a semi-finalist in the event at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. In regional competition, she claimed the silver medal at the 2009 Mediterranean Games and won a gold medal at the 2009 Jeux de la Francophonie, heading a Moroccan medal sweep.

Lakhouad ran her first sub-4 minute 1500 m race in 2010, recording 3:59.35 minutes for second at the Athletissima Diamond League meet in July to break the Moroccan national record. She won her first continental medal soon after, taking the 1500 m bronze medal at the 2010 African Championships in Athletics. She also placed fourth in the 800 metres final. She also competed in the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, finishing 34th overall. She delivered her career best global level performance at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics by taking fourth place in the 1500 m final.