Abderrahim Zhiou
Personal information
Native nameعبد الرحيم زهيو
Birth nameAbderrahim Zhiou
NicknameZizou
Born (1985-09-26) September 26, 1985
Tunisia Gabès, Tunisia
EducationHigher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Sfax, TUN (ISSEPS)[1]
Years active2002–present (Track and field T12)
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight65 kg (143 lb)
Sport
DisabilityVisual impairment
Disability classT12, T13
Event(s)T12 – 500 metres
T12 – 800 metres
T13 – 1500 metres
T12 – Men's Marathon
ClubTunisian Federation of Sports for the Disabled: Gabès, TUN
Coached byHedi Najah [2]
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • 800 m T12: 01:52.13 (2008, WR)
  • 1500 m T13: 3:48.31 (2012, WR)
Medal record
Men's paralympic athletics
Representing  Tunisia
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing 800 m T12
Gold medal – first place 2012 London 1500 m T13
Gold medal – first place 2012 London 800 m T12
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing 10000 m T12
Silver medal – second place 2012 London 5000 m T12
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London Marathon T12
IPC World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Christchurch 10000 m T12
Gold medal – first place 2011 Christchurch 1500 m T12
Gold medal – first place 2011 Christchurch 5000 m T12
Gold medal – first place 2011 Christchurch 800 m T12
Gold medal – first place 2013 Lyon 1500 m T12
Silver medal – second place 2013 Lyon 5000 m T12
Silver medal – second place 2013 Lyon 800 m T12

Abderrahim Zhiou (Arabic: عبد الرحيم زهيو, born September 26, 1985) is a Paralympian athlete from Tunisia competing mainly in category T12 middle-distance events.[3] He is a six-time Paralympiclympic medalist, is an African record holder, and trains with the Tunisian Federation of Sports for the Disabled team based at Gabès.

Biography

Abderrahim born on 26 September 1985 in Gabès. He started the sport in 1996 aged 11, but his visual impairment was an obstacle in front of his goal to be a professional basketball player.[4] Two years later, he joined the Tunisian Federation of Sports for the Disabled team based at Gabès.

The international debut of Abderrahim was in an international tournament in Morocco, in 2002.

Achievements

He competed in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, UK. There he won 2 gold medals in the men's 800 metres and 1500 metres – T12 event, a silver medal in the men's 5000 metres — T12 event, and a bronze medal in the men's Marathon — T12 event.[5]

In 2011, Zhiou won the World Champion title in 800, 1500, 5000 and 10000 meters T12 events.

He competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. There he won a gold medal in the men's 800 metres — T12 event and a silver medal in the men's 10,000 metres — T12, finished fourth in the men's Marathon — T12 event and finished sixth in the men's Pentathlon — P12 event.[6]

IPC world records and memorable moment

Spain's Abel Avila seemed to have everything in control, taking the lead from the start and holding it until halfway into the second lap when Lazaro Raschid Aguilar of Cuba overtook and sped off. It looked like Aguilar had sealed the deal when suddenly 10 meters from the finish line, Tunisia's Abderrahim Zhiou stole up from behind and won in a world record-breaking 1:52.13. Aguilar settled for silver with 1:52.40, and Odair Santos of Brazil took the bronze by finishing 1:53.73. Avila finished fourth with 1:55.17.[7]

In the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, Abderrahim became the owner of the IPC world records in 1500 m T13 event with a timing of 3:48.31.[8]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abderrahim Zhiou.
  1. ↑ (in English) ISSEPS website Archived 2016-08-21 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Abderrahim Zhiou in IPC database Archived April 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ (in English) Paralympic Athletes Biographies (official Site of Paralympics games) Archived 2018-01-21 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ (in French) interview of Abderrahim Zhiou in Lapresse newspaper. Archived August 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "Abderrahim Zhiou profile in London2012". Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  6. ↑ "Abderrahim Zhiou". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee.
  7. ↑ Athletics Day 3 Review: Medalists in 17 events rewarded Archived January 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "London2012 Men 1500 m T13 result". Archived from the original on 2013-03-31. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
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