Rabat – Morocco’s Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali stressed that the athlete’s gold at this year’s games is only the beginning.
“My career and my performances will not stop here,” El Bakkali told the press upon his arrival on Sunday, adding that he aspires “to win other titles, including the next World [Championships] and the Paris Olympics in 2024.”
El Bakkali earned his gold medal in 3000 meter steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics, the first non-Kenyan athlete to do so since Kenya began dominating the discipline in the 1984 Los Angeles games. In recognition of the athlete’s efforts, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI congratulated El Bakkali, commending “this well-deserved global crown,” and wishing him “success and brilliance in your rich sporting career.”
Following his victory, Morocco’s only medalist in this year’s games recounted that he couldn’t wait when he could present his “dear country” an Olympic medal, “a dream coming true, after years of hard work.” He dedicated the gold medal to all Moroccan people.
El Bakkali’s gold was the first Moroccan gold since the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The Moroccan athlete started his sporting career as a teenager, earning the fourth place at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Athletics at age of 18. El Bakkali participated at his first Olympics at the age of 20, in the 2016 Rio Games, where he placed fourth in the 3000 meter steeplechase.
He began earning his first medals at international events at the 2017 World Championship in London, where he placed second, then again in the 2018 Mediterranean Games in Spain where he placed first.
Morocco’s first Olympic Games were the Rome 1960 Games, and it has participated in every summer competition since, except in 1976 and 1980, when the North African country’s delegations boycotted the games. Moroccan athletes have won 24 medals in total, with El Bakkali earning the country’s seventh gold. Morocco has also earned five silver medals, and 12 bronze medals. Morocco’s medal count is spread out to 20 medals in Athletics, and four medals in boxing.
