Margaret Morel

At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Margaret Morel made history as the first woman to represent Seychelles at the Olympics. She competed in the 800 and 1500 metres track races, but was eliminated in the first round of both. She had had more luck at the previous year’s inaugural Indian Ocean Island Games, despite having only taken up the sport two months earlier, winning bronze in the 1500 metres and the 4x400 metres relay. She was also a field hockey player, but she retired from both sports in 1982 due to knee injuries. She set several national athletics records, including one in the 3000 metres in November 1981, which, at the time of her death in March 2019, was still standing.

Personal Bests: 800 – 2:16.94 (1980); 1500 – 4:37.89 (1980).