| Intro | Athletics competitor |
| Is |
Runner Athlete Middle-distance runner |
| From | Algeria |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | female |
| Birth | 19 October 1970, Algiers |
| Age: | 49 years |
| Star sign | Libra |
Nouria Merah-Benida (Arabic: نورية مراح بنيدة) (born October 19, 1970 in Algiers) is a former Algerian middle distance runner.
At the 1999 All-Africa Games in Johannesburg Merah-Benida won silver medals in both 800 metres and 1500 metres. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney she won a somewhat surprising gold medal ahead of Romanians Violeta Szekely (silver) and Gabriela Szabo (bronze). The same year she won an 800 m silver medal and a 1500 m gold medal at the African Championships.
Competition record
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Algeria | |||||
| 1996 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, Georgia | 23rd (h) | 800 m | 2:02.44 |
| 1997 | Mediterranean Games | Bari, Italy | 1st | 1500 m | 4:11.27 |
| World Championships | Athens, Greece | 11th (sf) | 800 m | 2:01.08 | |
| 29th (h) | 1500 m | 4:12.21 | |||
| 1999 | World Indoor Championships | Maebashi, Japan | 10th (sf) | 800 m | 2:03.10 |
| World Championships | Seville, Spain | 19th (h) | 1500 m | 4:08.90 | |
| All-Africa Games | Johannesburg, South Africa | 2nd | 800 m | 2:00.83 | |
| 2nd | 1500 m | 4:18.69 | |||
| 2000 | African Championships | Algiers, Algeria | 2nd | 800 m | 1:59.73 |
| 1st | 1500 m | 4:16.14 | |||
| Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | 1st | 1500 m | 4:05.10 | |
| 2001 | World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | 24th (h) | 1500 m | 4:15.06 |
| 2006 | African Championships | Bambous, Mauritius | 3rd | 800 m | 2:02.18 |
| 1st | 1500 m | 4:23.26 | |||