Nouria Merah-Benida () (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 an extremely 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. She retired after the 2001 season. Competition record References 1970 births Living people Algerian female middle-distance runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes of Algeria Olympic gold medalists for Algeria Sportspeople from Algiers Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field) Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Algeria Athletes (track and field) at the 1997 Mediterranean Games African Games silver medalists for Algeria African Games medalists in athletics (track and field) Mediterranean Games medalists in athletics Athletes (track and field) at the 1999 All-Africa Games 21st-century Algerian people