Spanish-Moroccan Runner Mohamed Katir Advances to Olympic 5,000m Final, Reaffirms Spanish Identity

The Spanish athletics "phenomenon", Mohamed Katir, triple Spanish record holder in the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 meters, is on the verge of an Olympic medal in the 5,000 meters. He won the semi-final in this category with a time of 13:30.10.

"It was difficult for me to reach the final, there are very good athletes here, but thanks to the work, I was able to succeed," Katir said in an interview with COPE after his victory. And he added: "I am very competitive, I will fight and now I will dream of the final".

To read: Spanish-Moroccan Runner Mohamed Katir Shatters 3,000m Indoor Track Record

The 23-year-old athlete insisted on the occasion on his Spanish nationality. "I am a Muleño (from the city of Mula, near Murcia), I am Spanish, I am not a Moroccan athlete, I do not represent Morocco," he asserted.

Mohamed Katir broke three national records in the 1,500 (3:28.76), 3,000 (7:27.64) and 5,000 meters (12:50.79) in June-July of this year.