Moroccan-Born Runner Gaitha El Kharraz Gains Spanish Citizenship, Wins First Medal

At the announcement of the news, Gaitha El Kharraz, 20 years old, originally from Tetouan, could not help but burst into tears. For her, it is the end of a long process that started in 2017 and made her lose medals despite her good performances. "Shortly after they granted me nationality, I participated in a Spanish championship in the 800 meters and I managed to win a medal... It was immense happiness," she confides to El Diario.

Now Spanish, Gaitha recounts that she arrived from Tetouan to Spain with her parents at the age of six. "There, even if you study and get a degree, you are nobody. If you don’t have connections, you can’t find a job... Here, you have more freedom and more opportunities," she says. "My school teacher told me that I was good at running, that I had to join a club. I followed his advice. Running allows me to free myself, it helps me a lot to release my stress, my anger..." adds Gaitha, explaining the origin of her passion for athletics.

To read: Moroccan Economist Wins Spanish Citizenship After Years-Long Wait

The young athlete from FC Barcelona also deplores the prejudices suffered due to this long procedure for obtaining nationality. "I had a lot of opportunities and they slipped away from me. I missed the U18 European Championship in Hungary, the U18 World Cup in Kenya, etc. In Madrid, they registered me once for the indoor final, but my coach Hector and I knew it was a mistake. It made me very angry," fumes Gaitha, who, determined to wear the Spanish colors, even declined the offer from the Moroccan Athletics Federation to participate in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

On Sunday, Gaitha won third place in the Spanish U23 400m hurdles championship. Currently, she is preparing while awaiting the next championships and is focusing on the end of her internship in Commercial Actions. "All of this has taught me to be persevering. I thought all the time that I had to keep fighting because nationality would come and when I had it, it would be time to show what I’m really worth. I think I’m showing it little by little, but I’m showing it," she says proudly.