Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1500m World Record Stands Unbroken After 25 Years

Originally from Berkane, Hicham El Guerrouj has marked the history of Moroccan athletics, becoming one of the most titled athletes in the kingdom and the world. He still holds the record in the 1500 meters, set in Rome in 1998 with a time of 3:26:00. No athlete has managed to dethrone him to this day. The Moroccan retired in 2006, after a back injury sustained during the World Indoor Championships in Moscow.

In a recent interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca, the Moroccan athlete said he could have achieved a better performance if the current modern and technological means were available at the time. "I have no doubt that at the present time, with all the technologies available to athletes, such as carbon shoes or high-wave shoes, I could have won the 1500 meters in 3:24 or even 3:23," he said.

El Guerrouj also spoke about the poor performances of Moroccan athletes in international competitions in recent years, despite the government’s efforts to develop athletics and football. According to him, Moroccan athletes "must change their mentality and approach to our sport". The world champion believes that "there are many small details in elite athletics that we do not pay enough attention to, which is regrettable".

The Moroccan champion also seized this platform to explain his choice not to become a coach. At least for now. "I have a lot of respect for the coaching profession. It takes a lot of passion... Maybe I’ll change my mind one day, but we can help develop our sport as advisors, federation presidents or technical directors," he said.