Rabat – Moroccan athlete Soufiane El Bakkali won the men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase on Friday at the Monaco Diamond League, one of the top international athletics meetings.
El Bakkali finished first with a time of 8 minutes and 3.18 seconds, beating Japan’s Ryuji Miura, who came in second with 8:03.43. Kenyan runner Edmond Serem took third place with a time of 8:04.00, while another Moroccan, Salaheddine Benyazide, finished fourth with 8:06.44.
This victory confirms once again that El Bakkali is one of the best steeplechase runners in the world. He has been dominating the event in recent years. El Bakkali is the reigning Olympic champion and world champion in the 3000m steeplechase. He is known for his strong finishing kick and smart race strategy.
El Bakkali has made history by winning gold medals at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, becoming the first man since the 1930s to defend his Olympic title in the 3000 meters steeplechase.
He is also a two-time World Champion, having won the world titles in 2022 and 2023, defeating strong competitors and ending Kenya’s long-standing dominance in this event.
His personal best time of 7 minutes and 56.68 seconds, set in Rabat in 2023, is one of the fastest steeplechase times ever recorded, ranking eighth all-time.
El Bakkali is known for his smart racing tactics as he often conserves energy early in the race and then unleashes a powerful finishing sprint in the final lap.
His achievements have earned him the reputation as one of the greatest steeplechasers of all time.
