فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Following his triumphant return to his homeland, Moroccan Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali made press statements at Rabat-Salé airport on Saturday, expressing his pride and honor in his historic achievement at the Paris Olympic Games.
El Bakkali, who won gold in the 3000-meter steeplechase for the second consecutive time, confirmed that the congratulatory message he received from His Majesty King Mohammed VI serves as “a strong motivation to continue raising Morocco’s flag high in international sports events.”
Speaking about his recent Olympic experience, El Bakkali stated: “This second coronation is a great source of pride for me, and it’s the result of continuous efforts and intensive training I underwent.” He added that winning the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics created “additional pressure” on him to maintain his level in Paris.
The Moroccan champion also revealed the challenges he faced during the season, pointing to an injury that negatively affected his preparations. Despite this, he managed to achieve success thanks to the support of Moroccan fans, especially the Moroccan community residing in France.
In concluding his statements, El Bakkali extended his gratitude to everyone who contributed to this historic achievement, as he became the second athlete in history to retain his Olympic title in the 3000-meter steeplechase, after Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo who accomplished this feat in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics.
It’s worth noting that this achievement adds to the series of successes El Bakkali has accomplished in his sports career, confirming Morocco’s position as a sports powerhouse in athletics on the global stage.
