Rabat – King Mohammed VI has sent a congratulatory message to athlete Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi for winning the bronze medal in the women’s marathon race at the 2023 World Athletics Championships held in Budapest.
In his message, the king expressed his warmest congratulations to the Moroccan athlete, celebrating the “well-deserved achievement that honors Moroccan sports and reaffirms its prominent presence on the international stage.”
The monarch also conveyed his best wishes for Gardadi in the future, hoping for “continued success and prosperity in her sports career” and underlining his commitment to supporting her in her future endeavors.
Gardadi’s historic win marked the first time that a Moroccan woman had graced the podium in the global competition.
The 31-year-old runner finished the 42-kilometer race in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 17 seconds.
She crossed the finish line behind Ethiopian runners Amane Beriso Shankule and Gotytom Gebreslase, who finished the race in a time of 2:24:23 and 2:24:34 respectively.
The Moroccan runner expressed her happiness at clinching the bronze medal and dedicated her win to King Mohammed VI.
In an interview with Moroccan sports channel Arryadia following the race, Gardadi said that her achievement was a dream come true after years of setbacks and hard work.
She also spoke about the strategy she followed throughout the race, which was “not to follow what the Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes do,” as “they are known for the constant change of rhythm.”
Gardadi’s bronze marked the second medal that Morocco has clinched in Budapest, adding to the gold medal that Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali won at the 3000m steeplechase race last Tuesday.
El Bakkali crossed the finish line in 8 minutes, 3 seconds, and 53 milliseconds, bagging his second gold medal at the World Athletics Championship.
