Rabat- Moroccan athlete Salah Eddine Ben Yazide won big on Monday evening when he claimed the gold medal in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase in Riyadh — a major coup for Morocco in the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games.
He finished the grueling race in an impressive 8:51.64, showing off his endurance and outsmarting the competition with a clever tactical run that put him on top of the podium.
Ben Yazide who was born in 2003, has already started to make a name for himself on the global athletics scene by claiming a bronze medal at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.
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Morocco adds to its medal haul
This gold in Riyadh is yet another big step in his development as one of Morocco’s most promising young distance runners.
Ben Yazide told MAP after the event that he managed to control the pace really well the whole time, sticking to his rhythm right up to the final stretch. He said he knew the competition was going to be tough, especially in the last few meters. But he was thrilled that his strategy paid off.
Morocco’s success in the Games isn’t limited to athletics as the country has picked up a few medals in other sports too. Amina Dehhaoui took home gold in taekwondo in the women’s ‑57 kg category, and Nada Laaraj in taekwondo won another gold in her weight class.
Imane Houda El Barodi also picked up gold in swimming, taking top spot in the women’s 50 meter breaststroke, and Ahmed Yassine Fliyou claimed bronze in the men’s 50 meter breaststroke.
With Ben Yazide’s win Morocco’s medal count at the Games now stands at an impressive 16, including eight golds, two silvers, and six bronzes, which puts them in a seventh spot in the overall provisional rankings.
