Morocco: 2nd in Arab World with 24 Olympic Medals Since 1960 Rome Olympics

Marrakech – With just days remaining before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Morocco is gearing up to make its mark on the global sporting stage once again.

Having a contingent of 60 athletes set to compete across 19 different sports, the North African country is poised to add to its impressive Olympic legacy that spans over six decades.

Since making its Olympic debut at the Rome Games in 1960, Morocco has participated in 14 editions of the quadrennial event, showcasing its prowess primarily in athletics and boxing.

The country’s athletes have clinched a total of 24 medals, including 7 gold, 5 silver, and 12 bronze, cementing Morocco’s position as the second most successful Arab nation in Olympic history, behind Egypt.

Morocco’s golden moments at the Olympics have been etched in the annals of sporting history.

The nation’s first gold medal came at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, when Nawal El Moutawakel blazed to victory in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, becoming the first Arab and African woman to win an Olympic gold.

The same edition saw Said Aouita clinch gold in the men’s 5,000-meter event, setting a record that remained unbroken until the Beijing Games in 2008.

In subsequent editions, Moroccan athletes continued to shine on the Olympic stage. Brahim Boutayeb secured gold in the men’s 10,000-meter race at the 1988 Seoul Games, while Khalid Skah followed suit in the same event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Other notable performances include Said Aouita’s bronze in the 800-meter event at the 1988 Seoul Games, Salah Hissou and Khalid Boulami’s bronze medals in the 10,000-meter and 5,000-meter races respectively at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Morocco’s success in women’s athletics was further highlighted by Nezha Bidouane, who claimed bronze in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2000 Sydney Games, becoming the second Moroccan woman to win an Olympic medal after Nawal El Moutawakel.

Hasna Benhassi followed suit, securing a silver medal in the women’s 800-meter event at the 2004 Athens Games and a bronze medal in the same event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Also, it was at the 2004 Athens Games that Morocco’s Olympic legend Hicham El Guerrouj etched his name in history by achieving an unprecedented double, winning gold in both the 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter events.

Beyond athletics, Morocco has also made its presence felt in boxing, with three bronze medals to its name.

Abdelhak Achik (54 kg) and Mohamed Achik (57 kg) secured podium finishes at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Games respectively, while Tahar Tamsamani (57 kg) added to the tally at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In more recent editions, Moroccan athletes have continued to make their mark. At the 2012 London Games, Abdalaati Iguider secured bronze in the men’s 1,500-meter event, while boxer Mohammed Rabii clinched bronze in the welterweight category at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The 2020 Tokyo Games, held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw Soufiane El Bakkali claim gold in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, further solidifying Morocco’s status as a force to be reckoned with in international athletics.

As the Moroccan contingent prepares to embark on its Paris 2024 campaign, the nation’s hopes are high. With a diverse range of sports on its roster, Morocco is well-positioned to enhance its Olympic medal count and further cement its status as a regional sporting powerhouse.