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Rabat – Moroccan Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali has expressed heartfelt thanks to King Mohammed VI, conveying his gratitude for the monarch’s continuous support.
El Bakkali made his remarks yesterday, during a reception in which the King received El Bakkali at the royal palace in Tetouan.
During the reception, the monarch bestowed upon the Moroccan champion the Ouissam Al Arch honor, in recognition of his historic achievement during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
El Bakkali brought home a gold medal to Morocco after a well-deserved win from the 3000m steeplechase event.
He told the press that the Ouissam award reflects King Mohammed VI’s ongoing support and continuous encouragement, which enabled him to maintain a positive momentum and achieve further success for Morocco.
El Bakkali also received a message from King Mohammed VI following his win.
In the message the monarch praised the runner, and emphasized that he hoped El Bakkali’s success would inspire Moroccan youth to follow in his footsteps to achieve their sporting goals.
Commenting on the monarch’s message last week, El Bakkali said that it is a “motivation to (make) more efforts,” so he can continue to honor Morocco at major international events.
“My first Olympic medal in Tokyo was special, but the one in Paris is even more so because I won it in front of the Moroccan community living in France, who provided unwavering encouragement and support during the qualifiers and the final,” he said.
