One former Moroccan Olympian has found himself in reduced circumstances, receiving no recognition for his efforts to raise the Moroccan flag high.
Rabat – From a long and middle-distance runner in his early years, Morocco’s Abderrahim Ben Redouan has become a laborer, carrying cement bags in his 50s.
Ben Redouan competed in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics for Morocco as a 30-year-old, coming 84th in the men’s marathon.
A number of social media users have been sharing before-and-after pictures of the forgotten Moroccan runner, feeling sorry for the sportsman’s current life.
When Ben Redouan’s career ended, the former runner found himself alone to face the challenge of earning a living and feeding his young children, according to Moroccan media reports.
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Although he reached out to Moroccan authorities and several sports institutions responsible for paying current Moroccan athletes, Ben Redouan did not receive any financial help or a position in an athletic club.
Ben Redouan’s financial situation continued to deteriorate as he found all doors blocked to him, Moroccan media reported.
Having exhausted all his options, Ben Redouan began fishing with just a fishing pole.
Ben Redouan, who lives in the G5 neighborhood in Rabat, now works as a cement bag porter.
