Marrakech – Amidst a challenging start for the Moroccan delegation at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, middle-distance runner Anass Essayi has provided a glimmer of hope by securing a spot in the men’s 1500m semifinals.
The 23-year-old athlete finished fourth in his qualifying heat with a time of 3:36.44. This performance places Anass Essayi among the best runners in the world.
He finished just behind Norway’s Narve Gilje Nordas, who took third place with a time of 3:36.41. Kenya’s Brian Komen finished second with a time of 3:36.31, while Scotland’s Josh Kerr won the heat with a time of 3:35.83.
Essayi, who won silver medals in the 1,500 meters at the 2018 All-Africa Youth Games in Algiers and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, as well as a bronze medal in the same event at the 2021 Pan Arab Athletics Championships in Rades, strategically managed his race, conserving energy until the final lap.
His performance has earned him the opportunity to face off against top global competitors in the semifinals, scheduled for Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Moroccan time. Should he advance, Essayi could potentially compete in the final on Tuesday, August 6.
However, Essayi’s success stands in contrast to the disappointing results of several other Moroccan athletes at the Paris Olympics.
Kayaker Mathis Soudi, a bronze medalist at the recent World Championships, narrowly missed out on a spot in the final of the Canoe-Kayak Slalom (K-1) event, finishing 16th in the semifinals. Soudi will have another chance to compete in the Contre-la-monte event today.
In surfing, Ramzi Boukhiam showcased a solid performance but was eliminated in the third round by Brazil’s Joao Chianca. Despite a close match, with Boukhiam scoring 17.80 points against Chianca’s 18.10, the Moroccan surfer’s journey in the competition came to an end.
The Moroccan boxing team has also faced setbacks, with Widad Bertal being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the women’s 54kg category after losing to North Korea’s Pang Chol-mi by a unanimous decision (4-0).
Khadija El Mardi remains in contention, set to face Australia’s Caitlin Parker in the quarterfinals of the women’s 75kg category, while Yasmine Mouttaki was eliminated in the round of 16 in the women’s 50kg category by the Philippines’ Aira Villegas.
