King Mohammed VI received, on Monday at the Royal Palace of Rabat, Ms. Nawal Sfendla, the first Moroccan woman to summit Mount Everest and adjacent Lhotse in one shot.
On this occasion, the Monarch decorated the mountaineer with the prestigious Wissam Al Moukafaa Al Watania (National Order of Merit) for her exceptional feat.
This shows the special interest the King takes in sport, driver of inclusive socioeconomic development and reflects the importance that the Sovereign grants to Moroccan woman, heartbeat and a key pillar of society.
Few days ago, the Monarch has offered congratulations to Ms. Nawal Sfendla for her remarkable sporting achievements made with conquering the Mount Everest and its adjacent Mount Lhotse.
In his congratulatory message, the King had commended the mountaineer for her milestone feat and for flying the national flag high, saying that her success, which comes as a result of her sustained efforts & strong will, confirms Moroccan women capacity to take up challenges in various fields.
After the audience, Mrs. Nawal Sfendla expressed, in a statement to the media, the immense pride she was feeling and that prompts her to continue representing Morocco with dignity.
“It is an immense honor and an unparalleled joy. It is a dream come true for me to be received by HM the King,” Mrs. Sfendla said, expressing her deep gratitude for the encouragement and congratulations extended to her by the Monarch.
“I hope to achieve another goal — not only climbing mountains, but also inspiring young people to dream big, dare to try, and work tirelessly” to meet challenges, she said.
She emphasized that the most meaningful dreams require “a lot of work.” “You should never give up and must believe in your dreams with all your heart,” she insisted.