Royal Decoration Fuels My Pride and Strength to Represent Morocco on the World Stage – El Bakkali
El Bakkali Vows to Make Morocco Proud After Receiving Royal Honor
Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali expressed immense pride and renewed determination after receiving a prestigious royal decoration from King Mohammed VI. The honor, bestowed upon El Bakkali for his gold medal win in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2024 Paris Olympics, serves as powerful motivation for the athlete.
El Bakkali’s victory in Paris wasn’t just a personal triumph; it ignited celebrations across Morocco and solidified his place in the nation’s sporting history. He became the second Moroccan to win the event at the Olympics, following in the footsteps of Hicham El Guerrouj’s historic win in Athens 2004. This lineage of success in the 3000m steeplechase highlights Morocco’s prowess in distance running on the world stage.
Deeply touched by the royal recognition, El Bakkali sees the award as a source of strength. He shared that the honor fuels his desire to continue representing Morocco with the utmost dedication and passion in future competitions.
This recent accolade adds to El Bakkali’s impressive list of achievements. He is also a two-time World Champion in the 3000m steeplechase, having secured victories in 2017 and 2022. His consistent performance at the highest level of athletics has cemented his status as a national hero and an inspiration to aspiring athletes in Morocco and beyond.
