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7/8/2024–|Last update: 7/8/202411:40 PM (Makkah Time)
Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali has established himself as the undisputed star of the 3,000-meter steeplechase race, after retaining his Olympic gold medal in Paris on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old grocer cleverly won a competitive race by recording 8:06.05 minutes, his best time this season, beating American Kenneth Rooks (8:06.41 minutes) and Kenyan Abraham Kibiwut (8:06.47 minutes).
In addition to the two Olympic gold medals, El Bakkali has two World Championship gold medals in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023, a silver in London 2017 and a bronze in Doha 2019.
🇲🇦🥇 Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali wins gold in 3000m steeplechase#Olympic Games | #Baris2024#Paris2024 | #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/CYpWzd9XJW
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) August 7, 2024
He became the third Arab athlete to win twice in the Olympic Games after his compatriot Hicham El Guerrouj (1500m and 5000m in Athens 2004) and Tunisian swimmer Oussama Mellouli (1500m freestyle in Beijing 2008 and 10km free water in London 2012).
Al-Baqqali is the second runner to defend his title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Olympic Games, after Finland's Volmari Esso-Hulu in 1932 and 1936.
The Moroccan also became the first non-Kenyan runner since 1980 to win gold in this complex distance at the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
