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“I am very proud of this recognition which I did not expect, and I am even more very happy about this award which rewards a very positive 2023 year for my career marked by a qualification for the 2024 Olympics. This award also encourages me to make more efforts to achieve new successes on the roads,” Houili said to APS, thanking all the journalists who voted for her.

In a successful year marked by victories, the time trial specialist, with a slender figure yet an iron will, secured a multitude of trophies, starting with the African champion title in the specialty in Ghana, before shining at the 2023 Arab Games held in Algeria with two gold medals in the time trial (individual and team).

The Algerian champion beautifully wrapped 2023, with two silver medals at the Arab Road Cycling Championships, in the individual time trial (U23) and the road race (Elite women).

Thanks to her successes, the native of Tlelat who started her career at 13 in the club of that western Algerian city before joining AS Naftal of Oran in 2019, has become the first Algerian female cyclist to qualify for the Summer Olympic Games by brilliantly punching her ticket to the 2024 Paris Games.[/ecr]