Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali etched his name in Olympic history by successfully defending his 3000m steeplechase title at the Paris Olympics 2024. His victory marked a remarkable achievement, making him only the third Arab athlete to win double gold at the Summer Games.
El Bakkali’s triumph was hard-fought, as he faced stiff competition from American Kenneth Rooks and Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot. However, the Moroccan runner displayed his resilience and determination, clocking a time of 8min 06.05sec to secure the gold medal. Rooks and Kibiwot finished with silver and bronze, respectively.
The race was marred by a worrying incident involving Ethiopian world record holder Lamecha Girma. Girma suffered a severe fall at a hurdle, leaving him prone on the track. He was eventually stretchered off and taken to the hospital, but thankfully, he did not require surgery.
El Bakkali’s victory was particularly significant as he overcame a challenging year marked by injuries. He credited his teammate Mohamed Tindouft for helping him break the Ethiopian team’s tactics during the race.
“I was suffering from an injury, but I was able to overcome it,” said El Bakkali. “The race was not easy. There was an Ethiopian plan, but thank God my compatriot Tindouft helped me.”
El Bakkali’s second Olympic gold places him among the elite Arab athletes who have achieved double victories at the Summer Games. He joins Moroccan legend Hicham El Guerrouj and Tunisian swimmer Oussama Mellouli in this exclusive club.
While El Bakkali celebrated his triumph, concerns lingered over Girma’s condition. The Ethiopian runner’s fall raised questions about the safety of the steeplechase event and the need for improved safety measures.
