Hassiba Boulmerka

"It was a triumph for women all over the world to stand up to their enemies, That's what made me really proud."

"My father worried a lot about me - it was an enormous stress for him,I knew that what I was doing was an incredible burden for him."

"As I crossed the line, I thrust a fist into the air, It was a symbol of victory, of defiance. It was to say:I did it! I won!"

"That year I didn't run a single race in Algeria, It was simply too risky. I could have been killed at any moment."

"Tradition is not really a problem. The thinking has evolved enormously. Women’s emancipation has really progressed. Women can choose what sport they want."

"Women’s sport in general is very weak, We still need a good sports policy. There’s a lot of work to do."

"I was screaming for Algeria's pride and Algeria's history, and still more."

"Several leaders of political parties told me, You did what we haven't been able to do for years. You brought us together."

"My parents came originally from the remote countryside. But for 10 years my father drove a truck in France and sent money home to our family."

"You can't be a champion in a week or a year, You must accept a time of suffering."

"I like to keep things simple, not be a star. But I've become a representative of all Algeria, and of young women in particular."

"Every year it gets harder to balance my training, my friends, my other interests and my duty to visit my parents and take care of them."

"My race at the world championships was the first time I ever felt complete confidence in myself."

"In athletics, on the track, I learned to suffer, to love my country, to concentrate, to take responsibility."

"I believe you can express your self in sport maybe better than in any other field. All that, and it brings everyone together, too."