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In a spectacular finale at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Moroccan runner Soufiane El Bakkali delivered an unsurprising and outstanding performance, securing the gold in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.
El Bakkali crossed the finish line first with a time of 8:06:05.
El Bakkali demonstrated remarkable resilience during the race, initially starting in fifth and fourth positions.
Despite the challenging beginning, the Moroccan runner advanced through the field.
Throughout the rounds, Ethiopian runners dominated the competition.
El Bakkali however moved between third and fourth positions and also faced other challenges that saw him in seventh position, but he surged forward in the final minutes to do what he has always done for the past years.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Tindouft finished in 12th place. But the Moroccan representative did also show positive signs and was able to lead the race in the last minutes.
The second position was clinched by the US runner, Kenneth Rooks with a time of 8:06:41. Kenya’s Kibiwot was fourth and was followed by Tunisia’s Jhinaoui.
Soufiane Bakkali’s historic podium finish has brought immense pride and celebration to Morocco, marking a significant achievement after several heartbreaking defeats and early exits by Moroccan representatives at the Paris Olympics.
El Bakkali won two gold medals at the World Athletics Championships, triumphing in both 2022 and 2023.
His long list of achievements includes a third-place finish at the 2019 African Games and a second-place finish at the 2018 African Championships.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, El Bakkali secured gold in his specialty event with a time of 8:08.90, finishing ahead of Ethiopia’s Girma and Kenya’s Benjamin Kigen.
