Rabat – King Mohammed VI has praised Moroccan steeplechase runner Soufiane El Bakkali for his remarkable victory in the 3,000 meters steeplechase at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The king extended his warmest congratulations to El Bakkali, praising the athlete’s determination, perseverance, and patriotism.
The monarch expressed hope that El Bakkali’s success would inspire young Moroccan athletes to follow in his footsteps and achieve their own sporting goals.
El Bakkali’s gold medal win marks his second consecutive Olympic gold in this event, having previously won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This feat has brought immense pride to Morocco and is celebrated as a significant achievement for the nation.
El Bakkali clinched the gold medal with a time of 8 minutes 6 seconds at the Stade de France on Wednesday.
Hopes were high for El Bakkali, who won Morocco’s first medal at the ongoing Olympics, to deliver a strong performance in the wake of a series of disappointments from other Moroccan athletes.
Expressing his joy and gratitude following his win, El Bakkali dedicated his gold medal to King Mohammed VI. In an emotional interview with beIN Sports, he reflected on the challenging journey leading up to his win.
El Bakkali shared that this year was particularly difficult due to an injury that nearly derailed his Olympic participation. With the support of his coach and the Moroccan Athletics Federation, he overcame these challenges to compete at the highest level.
The steeplechase race was highly competitive, with a notable Ethiopian strategy posing a challenge. El Bakkali recounted how he received crucial assistance from fellow Moroccan athlete Mohamed Tendouft, who helped break the Ethiopian pack’s rhythm and facilitated El Bakkali’s victory.
“I spoke to him during the competition to advance in the race, which allowed us to change the order,” he explained to Arryadia.
