Moroccan athlete Hasna Benhassi, born in 1978 in Marrakech, won the silver medal in the women's 800 m at the Helsinki World Athletics Championship on Tuesday August 8. Benhassi crossed the finishing line second with a performance of 1:59.42 just after Cuban Zulia Catalayud (1:58.82) who ranked first in the 800 m. Russian Tatyana Andrianova (1:59.60) received the bronze medal, which was a disappointment for her trainer.
Le Matin reports that Moroccan athlete Benhassi won the 1500 m in Lisbon in 2001 becoming the second female Moroccan athlete after Nezha Bidouane to win a world championship. Benhassi also won the silver medal in the women's 800 meters in 2004 Olympic Games.
