Abderrahim Zhiou

Abderrahim Zhiou

Personal information
Native name	عبد الرحيم زهيو
Birth name	Abderrahim Zhiou
Born	September 26, 1985 Gabes, Tunisia
Residence	Gabes, Tunisia
Education	Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Sfax, TUN (ISSEPS)[1]
Years active	2002–present (Track and field T12)
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	65 kg (143 lb)
Sport
Disability	Visual impairment
Event(s)	T12 - 500 metres T12 - 800 metres T13 - 1500 metres T12 - Men's Marathon
Club	Tunisian Federation of Sports for the Disabled: Gabes, TUN
Coached by	Hedi Najah [2]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	800 m T12: 01:52.13 (2008, WR) 1500 m T13: 3:48.31 (2012, WR)
Medal record Paralympic athletics Competitor for  Tunisia Paralympic Games 2008 Beijing 800m - T12 2012 London 1500m - T13 2012 London 800m - T12 2008 Beijing 10000m - T12 2012 London 5000m - T12 2012 London Marathon - T12 World Championships 2011 Christchurch 10000m T12 2011 Christchurch 1500m T12 2011 Christchurch 5000m T12 2011 Christchurch 800m T12 2013 Lyon 1500m T12 2013 Lyon 5000m T12 2013 Lyon 800m T12

Abderrahim Zhiou (Arabic: عبد الرحيم زهيو‎) (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 Gabes.

Biography

Abderrahim born on 26 September 1985 in Gabes. 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 Gabes.

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 10000 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 1500m T13 event with a timing of 3:48.31.^[8]

See also

• Tunisia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
• Tunisia at the Paralympics

References

1. (English) ISSEPS website
2. Abderrahim Zhiou in IPC database
3. (English) Paralympic Athletes Biographies (official Site of Paralympics games)
4. (French) interview of Abderrahim Zhiou in Lapresse newspaper.
5. Abderrahim Zhiou profile in London2012
6. Results for Abderrahim Zhiou from the International Paralympic Committee
7. Athletics Day 3 Review: Medalists in 17 events rewarded
8. London2012 Men 1500m T13 result