Rabat – King Mohammed VI received Olympic gold medalist Soufiane El Bakkali at the Royal Palace in Tetouan on Wednesday. El Bakkali was celebrated for winning the gold medal in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The monarch bestowed the esteemed Ouissam Al Arch, Order of Commander, upon Soufiane El Bakkali to honor his exceptional achievement.The ceremony saw the presence of Abdeslam Ahizoune, President of the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation.
El Bakkali achieved this feat at the Stade de France, where he completed the race in 8 minutes 6 seconds. This victory, which has brought immense pride to Morocco, follows the athlete’s gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
His performance was especially significant as it marked Morocco’s first medal at the Paris 2024 Games. In addition, it cemented his status as a standout athlete on the global stage.
In an emotional interview with beIN Sports following his win, El Bakkali expressed his deep gratitude and dedicated his gold medal to King Mohammed VI.
In addition, he highlighted the difficulties he faced this year, including a serious injury that almost prevented his participation. Thanks to the support of his coach and the Moroccan Athletics Federation, he was able to overcome these obstacles and compete at the highest level.
The steeplechase race was fiercely contested, with Ethiopian athletes posing a significant challenge. El Bakkali credited fellow Moroccan athlete Mohamed Tendouft for his crucial assistance during the race.
Tendouft’s strategic moves helped disrupt the Ethiopian pack’s rhythm, allowing El Bakkali to secure his victory. “I spoke to him during the competition to advance in the race, which allowed us to change the order,” El Bakkali told Arryadia.
In addition to El Bakkali, Morocco earned another medal at the Paris Olympics, this time bronze, after Morocco’s U23 football team finished third in the event’s football tournament.
El Bakkali’s performance was a shining beacon for Morocco during what many are regarding as a disappointing overall performance at the 2024 Games for the North African country.
