Morocco’s El-Bakkali Ends Kenya’s 37-Year Olympic Steeplechase Reign

Monday, August 2nd will remain memorable for both Moroccans and Kenyans. The former for having put an end to a hegemony that has lasted since 1984, the latter for having lost their crown after 37 years of reign. Soufiane El-Bakkali won the 3000 m steeplechase event in 8 minutes 8 seconds at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, ahead of Ethiopian Lamecha Girma and Kenyan Benjamin Kigen.

The Moroccan runner had on his shoulders the heavy burden of offering a medal to Morocco, which had accumulated failures and disqualifications since the beginning of the competition. Revived by this thirst to relieve an entire people, and by ambition and determination, he broke away to go straight towards his goal: to become Olympic champion. He thus offers Morocco its first Olympic gold medal since the double of Hicham El Guerrouj, in 2004 in Athens on the 1,500 m and 5,000 m.

Soufiane El Bakkali is one of the best of his generation in the 3000 m steeplechase category. Five years ago, he finished fourth in Rio. In 2017 at the London Worlds, he won the silver medal, before winning the bronze in Doha, two years later. He also holds the best performances in 2018 and 2019. This year, at the Tokyo Olympics, he recorded the third best time.