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Soufiane El Bakkali

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Soufiane El Bakkali (Arabic: سفيان البقالي; born 7 January 1996[4]) is a Moroccan middle-distance runner who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He is a two-time Olympic champion, having won gold in the event at both the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics. He has also achieved significant success at the World Athletics Championships, securing back-to-back gold medals in 2022 and 2023. El Bakkali was also the 2022 Diamond League champion in his specialist event and is known for breaking Kenya's decades-long dominance in the steeplechase.

Soufiane El Bakkali
El Bakkali in 2022
Personal information
Born (1996-01-07) 7 January 1996 (age 28)
Fez, Morocco
Height1.94 (6'4)[1]
Weight71 kg (157 lb)[1]
Sport
CountryMorocco
SportAthletics
Event3000 metres steeplechase
ClubFCC Fes[2]
Coached byKarim Tlemcani[2]
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking1st (2023)[3]
Personal best
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Morocco
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 3000 m st.
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris 3000 m st.
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Eugene 3000 m st.
Gold medal – first place 2023 Budapest 3000 m st.
Silver medal – second place 2017 London 3000 m st.
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Doha 3000 m st.
Diamond League
First place 2022 3000 m st.
All-Africa Games
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Rabat 3000 m st.
African Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 Asaba 3000 m st.

Career

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At age 18, Soufiane El Bakkali placed fourth in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Athletics, and then made his senior debut at the 2014 African Championships in Athletics, placing tenth in the event.[5] He also competed in cross country running and was 18th as a junior at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.[4]

He gained selection for Morocco at the 2016 Summer Olympics after a personal best of 8:14.41 minutes to take fourth in his specialist event at the Herculis meeting.[6] At the Rio Olympics, El Bakkali improved his personal best further to 8:14.35 minutes and finished fourth.[7]

 
El Bakkali during the 2017 Golden Gala, Rome

He won the silver medal at the 2017 World Championships held in London in a time of 8:14.49 behind only Conseslus Kipruto who ran 8:14.12. Two years later, at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar El Bakkali earned a bronze with a season's best of 8:03.76 behind Kipruto (8:01.35) and Lamecha Girma (8:01.36).[4]

On 3 September 2020, he won the 1500 metres race at the 14th International Marseille Athletics Meeting in France.[8]

El Bakkali qualified to represent Morocco at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics[9] where he won the gold medal in his signature event with a time of 8:08.90, ahead of Girma in 8:10.38 and Benjamin Kigen (8:11.45). He thus became the first non-Kenyan-born athlete to win the title since Poland's Bronislaw Malinowski did so at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and the first non-Kenyan born gold medallist at the Olympics or World Championships since 1987.[10][11] On 18 September 2021, El Bakkali won his speciality event at the Kip Keino Classic meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, finishing with an 8:21.20 clocking.[12][13]

 
El Bakkali in the 2022 World Athletics Championships

On 18 July 2022 at the World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, El Bakkali became the world champion, winning the gold medal in the 3000 m steeplechase with a time of 8:25.13 ahead of Lamecha Girma (8:26.01) and Conseslus Kipruto (8:27.92).[14] In September at the Diamond League final in Zürich, he claimed his first Diamond Trophy. Just three days later, he capped his fine season with an African best in the 2000 m steeplechase, running 5:14.06 at the Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb to move to third on the world all-time list for the event.[15] El Bakkali was undefeated and ran the fastest time in the world that season, clocking 7:58.28 at Rabat Diamond League. In November, he was shortlisted for the World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year award.[16]

On 22 August 2023, El Bakkali won his second World Championship gold medal in the 2023 World Athletics Championships after placing first in the final race with a time of 8:03.53.[17][18]

On 7 August 2024, at the Paris Olympics, El Bakkali defended his Olympic title in the 3000 m steeplechase, winning in a time of 8:06.05. He overtook American Kenneth Rooks in the final straightaway, who took the lead in the bell lap.[19]

Personal life

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On 14 September 2023, El Bakkali donated some of his blood for the needy affected by the 2023 Marrakesh-Safi earthquake.[20]

Achievements

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International competitions

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Representing   Morocco
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2014 World Junior Championships Eugene, OR, United States 4th 3000 m s'chase 8:34.98
African Championships Marrakesh, Morocco 10th 3000 m s'chase 8:59.66
2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 4th 3000 m s'chase 8:14.35
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom 2nd 3000 m s'chase 8:14.49
2018 Mediterranean Games Tarragona, Spain 1st 3000 m s'chase 8:20.97
African Championships Asaba, Nigeria 2nd 3000 m s'chase 8:28.01
2019 African Games Rabat, Morocco 3rd 3000 m s'chase 8:19.45
World Championships Doha, Qatar 3rd 3000 m s'chase 8:03.76
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan – 1500 m DNF
1st 3000 m s'chase 8:08.90
2022 World Championships Eugene, OR, United States 1st 3000 m s'chase 8:25.13
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 1st 3000 m s'chase 8:03.53
2024 Olympic Games Paris, France 1st 3000 m s'chase 8:06.05

Circuit wins and titles

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3000 metres steeplechase wins, other events specified in parentheses
3000 metres steeplechase wins, other events specified in parentheses

Personal bests

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Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b "مع الرمضاني : الأحد 25 دجنبر 2022". Youtube. 2MTV. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b Soufiane Elbakkali Archived 19 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine. nbcolympics.com
  3. ^ "World Rankings | Men's 3000mSC (2000mSC)".
  4. ^ a b c "Soufiane EL BAKKALI – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  5. ^ 2014 African Championships in Athletics Results Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Marrakech2014. Retrieved on 19 August 2016.
  6. ^ 3000 Metres Steeplechase men Herculis MONACO Monaco (Stade Louis II), MONACO 15 JUL 2016. IAAF. Retrieved on 19 August 2016. Archived 23 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Soufiane El Bakkali Archived 22 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Rio2016. Retrieved on 19 August 2016.
  8. ^ Mebtoul, Taha. "Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 1,500m Race in France". Morocco world news. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  9. ^ Zerbaoui, Josef Abdessalam (26 February 2020). "Moroccan Athlete El Bakkali Has Sights on Gold at 2020 Olympic Games". Morocco World News. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Kenya's Reign is Over: Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Olympic Men's Steeplechase in Tokyo". LetsRun.com. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  11. ^ Galadima, Yemi (5 January 2023). "Top 10 African Male Athletes in 2022 - Part 2". Making of Champions. p. 4. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  12. ^ Toutate, Issam. "Morocco's El Bakkali Outruns Kenyans at Home". moroccoworldnews.com/. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Le Marocain Soufiane El Bakkali réalise un exploit au Kenya". Le Site Info (in French). 18 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  14. ^ Tennery, Amy (19 July 2022). "El Bakkali wins 3,000m steeplechase world gold". Reuters. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Spotlight on finalists: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Soufiane El Bakkali". World Athletics. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Finalists announced for Men's World Athlete of the Year 2022". World Athletics. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  17. ^ "King Congratulates Soufiane El Bakkali, 3,000m Steeplechase World Champion". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  18. ^ Erraji, Abdellah. "Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Budapest World Athletics Championships". Morocco World News. p. 1.
  19. ^ "PARIS 2024 ATHLETICS: MOROCCO'S SOUFIANE EL BAKKALI WINS HISTORIC SECOND STRAIGHT OLYMPIC GOLD IN MEN'S 3,000M STEEPLECHASE".
  20. ^ Erraji, Abdellah (14 September 2023). "Morocco Earthquake: Soufiane El Bakkali Takes Part in Blood Donation Campaign". Morocco World News. p. 1. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  21. ^ "World Leaders by Ingebrigtsen & Korir Highlight 2022 Diamond League Final". LetsRun.com. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Top track clashes across the board as athletes target trophies in Zurich". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  23. ^ Staff Writer. "Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 3,000m Steeplechase in Monaco". Morocco world news. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  24. ^ Staff Writer. "Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 3000m Steeplechase in Monaco for 2nd Time". Morocco world news. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  25. ^ Owen-Jones, Juliette. "Paris Diamond League: Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Race Despite Bloody Foot". Morocco world news. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  26. ^ Mebtoul, Taha. "Morocco's Soufian El Bakkali Breaks 2020 Steeplechase Record". Morocco world news. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  27. ^ Daoudi, Safae. "Moroccan Athlete Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Race at Rome's Diamond League". Morocco world news. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  28. ^ Latrech, Oumaima (15 May 2022). "Moroccan Athlete Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Race At Doha's Diamond League". Morocco world news. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  29. ^ "El Bakkali rocks Rabat with world-leading steeplechase victory". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Programme 2022". lausanne.diamondleague.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  31. ^ Zouiten, Sara. "Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 3,000M Title at Diamond Leauge[sic] Final". Morocco World News. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  32. ^ Mulkeen, Jon (28 May 2023). "El Bakkali, Tsegay and Mahuchikh impress in Rabat". World Athletics. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  33. ^ Erraji, Abdellah. "Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 3,000 Meters Steeplechase in Stockholm". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  34. ^ Rahhou, Jihane. "Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Continues Winning Streak in Poland". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  35. ^ "Moroccan El Bakkali wins 3,000m steeplechase in Xiamen". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Home star Perkovic wins discus duel to cap season in Zagreb". World Athletics. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  37. ^ "Morocco's Champion Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 2,000 M Steeplechase in Zagreb". The North Africa Post. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  38. ^ "البقالي أفضل عدّاء في إفريقيا لعام 2022". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  39. ^ Zouiten, Sara. "Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Selected as Africa's Best Male Athlete of 2022". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  40. ^ "HM the King Receives Olympic Champion Soufiane El Bakkali in Tetouan". Maghreb Arabe Press. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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