Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali becomes third Arab to win double Olympic gold

In a thrilling display of athletic prowess, Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali clinched gold in the men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defending his title with remarkable determination.

El Bakkali's victory, with a time of 8:06.05, not only secured his position as the reigning champion but also etched his name into history as the third Arab athlete to achieve back-to-back Olympic golds.

El Bakkali's triumph was all the more impressive given the dramatic twists of the race. The defending champion strategically navigated the race, initially staying within the pack before making his decisive move with 300 meters remaining. As he surged ahead, the race took an unexpected turn when Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma, the world record holder, suffered a dramatic fall at a hurdle and was stretchered off.

The silver medal went to Kenneth Rooks of the US, who delivered a personal best with a time of 8:06.41. Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot secured the bronze with 8:06.47, while Tunisian Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui set a new national record with a fourth-place finish at 8:07.73.

As he crossed the finish line, his arms raised in celebration, he became the first athlete to win back-to-back Olympic steeplechase titles since Finland's Volmari Iso-Hollo in 1932 and 1936.

His victory at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics marked a historic first as the first non-Kenyan to win the steeplechase title since 1980, a feat he reinforced with subsequent world championship wins in Eugene and Budapest.

Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi, wins Bronze in taekwondo at Paris 2024AFP

In addition to El Bakkali’s success, Tunisia celebrated another significant achievement with Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi securing the bronze medal in the men’s 58kg taekwondo competition. Despite a loss in the semifinals to South Korea’s Taejoon Park, Jendoubi triumphed over Spain’s Adrian Vicente to claim the bronze.

Jendoubi, who won silver in the same weight category at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, was a strong contender for gold in Paris. His success marks Tunisia's second medal at the Paris Games, following fencer Fares Ferjani’s silver in the sabre competition.