Soufiane El Bakkali

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Soufiane El Bakkali

| image = Soufiane el-Bakkali (cropped) Athletissima 2022.jpg

| imagesize = 160px

| caption = El Bakkali in 2022

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|1|7}}

| birth_place = Fez, Morocco

| height = 1.94 (6'4){{cite web |title=مع الرمضاني : الأحد 25 دجنبر 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbvH2lssEAM |website=Youtube | date=25 December 2022 |publisher=2MTV |access-date=7 April 2024}}

| weight = 71 kg

| country = Morocco

| sport = Athletics

| event = 3000 metres steeplechase

| club = FCC Fes[http://results.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=elbakkali-soufiane-1424160/index.html Soufiane Elbakkali] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919143613/http://results.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=elbakkali-soufiane-1424160/index.html |date=19 September 2016 }}. nbcolympics.com

| coach = Karim Tlemcani

| highestranking = 1st (2023){{cite web | url=https://worldathletics.org/world-rankings/3000msc/men?regionType=world&page=1&rankDate=2023-12-26 | title=World Rankings | Men's 3000mSC (2000mSC) }}

| pb = {{ubl

|3000 m SC: 7:56.68 (Rabat 2023)

}}

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{MOR}}}}

}}

Soufiane El Bakkali ({{langx|ar|سفيان البقالي}}; born 7 January 1996{{cite web |title=Soufiane EL BAKKALI – Athlete Profile |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/morocco/soufiane-el-bakkali-14590424 |access-date=2021-01-01 |website=World Athletics}}) is a Moroccan middle-distance runner who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He is a two-time Olympic champion, having won gold in the event at both the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics. He has also achieved significant success at the World Athletics Championships, securing back-to-back gold medals in 2022 and 2023. El Bakkali was also the 2022 Diamond League champion in his specialist event and is known for breaking Kenya's decades-long dominance in the steeplechase.

Career

At age 18, El Bakkali placed fourth in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Athletics, and then made his senior debut at the 2014 African Championships in Athletics, placing tenth in the event.[http://84.33.2.63/marrakech2014/pdf/LivreResultats.pdf 2014 African Championships in Athletics Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234418/http://84.33.2.63/marrakech2014/pdf/LivreResultats.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}. Marrakech2014. Retrieved on 19 August 2016. He also competed in cross country running and was 18th as a junior at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

He gained selection for Morocco at the 2016 Summer Olympics after a personal best of 8:14.41 minutes to take fourth in his specialist event at the Herculis meeting.[https://www.iaaf.org/results/diamond-league-meetings/2016/herculis-5843/men/3000-metres-steeplechase/final/result 3000 Metres Steeplechase men Herculis MONACO Monaco (Stade Louis II), MONACO 15 JUL 2016]. IAAF. Retrieved on 19 August 2016. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823025156/https://www.iaaf.org/results/diamond-league-meetings/2016/herculis-5843/men/3000-metres-steeplechase/final/result |date=23 August 2016 }} At the Rio Olympics, El Bakkali improved his personal best further to 8:14.35 minutes and finished fourth.[https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/soufiane-el-bakkali Soufiane El Bakkali] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922184000/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/soufiane-el-bakkali |date=22 September 2016 }}. Rio2016. Retrieved on 19 August 2016.

File:Soufiane El Bakkali Golden Gala 2017.jpg

He won the silver medal at the 2017 World Championships held in London in a time of 8:14.49 behind only Conseslus Kipruto who ran 8:14.12. Two years later, at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar El Bakkali earned a bronze with a season's best of 8:03.76 behind Kipruto (8:01.35) and Lamecha Girma (8:01.36).

On 3 September 2020, he won the 1500 metres race at the 14th International Marseille Athletics Meeting in France.{{Cite news |last=Mebtoul |first=Taha |title=Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 1,500m Race in France |work=Morocco world news |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/09/317312/moroccos-soufiane-el-bakkali-wins-1500-race-in-france |access-date=17 October 2022}}

El Bakkali qualified to represent Morocco at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics{{Cite web|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/02/294694/moroccan-athlete-el-bakkali-has-sights-on-gold-at-2020-olympic-games/|title=Moroccan Athlete El Bakkali Has Sights on Gold at 2020 Olympic Games|last=Zerbaoui|first=Josef Abdessalam|date=2020-02-26|website=Morocco World News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-01|archive-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228040909/https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/02/294694/moroccan-athlete-el-bakkali-has-sights-on-gold-at-2020-olympic-games/|url-status=live}} where he won the gold medal in his signature event with a time of 8:08.90, ahead of Girma in 8:10.38 and Benjamin Kigen (8:11.45). He thus became the first non-Kenyan-born athlete to win the title since Poland's Bronislaw Malinowski did so at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and the first non-Kenyan born gold medallist at the Olympics or World Championships since 1987.{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-08-02 |title=Kenya's Reign is Over: Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Olympic Men's Steeplechase in Tokyo |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2021/08/kenyas-reign-is-over-soufiane-el-bakkali-wins-olympic-mens-steeplechase-in-tokyo/ |access-date=2021-08-02 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Galadima |first=Yemi |date=5 January 2023 |title=Top 10 African Male Athletes in 2022 - Part 2 |url=https://www.makingofchamps.com/2023/01/05/top-10-african-male-athletes-in-2022-part-2/ |access-date=5 January 2023 |website=Making of Champions |page=4 |language=en-US}} On 18 September 2021, El Bakkali won his speciality event at the Kip Keino Classic meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, finishing with an 8:21.20 clocking.{{Cite web|last=Toutate|first=Issam|title=Morocco's El Bakkali Outruns Kenyans at Home|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/09/344493/morocco-s-el-bakkali-outruns-kenyans-at-home|access-date=2021-09-20|website=moroccoworldnews.com/|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-09-18|title=Le Marocain Soufiane El Bakkali réalise un exploit au Kenya|url=https://www.lesiteinfo.com/sport/le-marocain-soufiane-el-bakkali-realise-un-exploit-au-kenya/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Le Site Info|language=fr-FR}}

File:Soufiane El Bakkali Oregon 2022.jpg

On 18 July 2022 at the World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, El Bakkali became the world champion, winning the gold medal in the 3000 m steeplechase with a time of 8:25.13 ahead of Lamecha Girma (8:26.01) and Conseslus Kipruto (8:27.92).{{Cite news |last=Tennery |first=Amy |date=2022-07-19 |title=El Bakkali wins 3,000m steeplechase world gold |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/el-bakkali-wins-3000m-steeplechase-world-gold-2022-07-19/ |access-date=2022-07-19}} In September at the Diamond League final in Zürich, he claimed his first Diamond Trophy. Just three days later, he capped his fine season with an African best in the 2000 m steeplechase, running 5:14.06 at the Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb to move to third on the world all-time list for the event.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-17 |title=Spotlight on finalists: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Soufiane El Bakkali |url=https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/spotlight-finalists-shelly-ann-fraser-pryce-soufiane-el-bakkali |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=World Athletics}} El Bakkali was undefeated and ran the fastest time in the world that season, clocking 7:58.28 at Rabat Diamond League. In November, he was shortlisted for the World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year award.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-15 |title=Finalists announced for Men's World Athlete of the Year 2022 |url=https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/mens-world-athlete-of-the-year-2022-finalists |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=World Athletics}}

On 22 August 2023, El Bakkali won his second World Championship gold medal in the 2023 World Athletics Championships after placing first in the final race with a time of 8:03.53.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-23 |title=King Congratulates Soufiane El Bakkali, 3,000m Steeplechase World Champion |url=https://en.hespress.com/69666-king-congratulates-soufiane-el-bakkali-3000m-steeplechase-world-champion.html |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=HESPRESS English - Morocco News |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Erraji |first=Abdellah |title=Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Budapest World Athletics Championships |pages=1 |work=Morocco World News |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/08/357219/soufiane-el-bakkali-wins-budapest-world-athletics-championships}}

On 7 August 2024, at the Paris Olympics, El Bakkali defended his Olympic title in the 3000 m steeplechase, winning in a time of 8:06.05. He overtook American Kenneth Rooks in the final straightaway, who took the lead in the bell lap.{{Cite web |title=PARIS 2024 ATHLETICS: MOROCCO'S SOUFIANE EL BAKKALI WINS HISTORIC SECOND STRAIGHT OLYMPIC GOLD IN MEN'S 3,000M STEEPLECHASE |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/paris-2024-athletics-morocco-soufiane-el-bakkali-wins-historic-olympic-gold-in-mens-3000m-steeplechase}}

Personal life

On 14 September 2023, El Bakkali donated some of his blood for the needy affected by the 2023 Marrakesh-Safi earthquake.{{Cite news |last=Erraji |first=Abdellah |date=14 September 2023 |title=Morocco Earthquake: Soufiane El Bakkali Takes Part in Blood Donation Campaign |pages=1 |work=Morocco World News |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/09/357698/morocco-earthquake-soufiane-el-bakkali-takes-part-in-blood-donation-campaign |access-date=15 September 2023}}

Achievements

=International competitions=

rowspan=2|2014

|World Junior Championships

|Eugene, OR, United States

|4th

|3000 m s'chase

|8:34.98

African Championships

|Marrakesh, Morocco

|10th

|3000 m s'chase

|8:59.66

2016

|Olympic Games

|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

|4th

|3000 m s'chase

|8:14.35

2017

|World Championships

|London, United Kingdom

|bgcolor=silver|2nd

|3000 m s'chase

|8:14.49

rowspan=2|2018

|Mediterranean Games

|Tarragona, Spain

|bgcolor=gold|1st

|3000 m s'chase

|8:20.97

African Championships

|Asaba, Nigeria

|bgcolor=silver|2nd

|3000 m s'chase

|8:28.01

rowspan=2|2019

|African Games

|Rabat, Morocco

|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd

|3000 m s'chase

|8:19.45

World Championships

|Doha, Qatar

|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd

|3000 m s'chase

|8:03.76

rowspan=2|2021

|rowspan=2|Olympic Games

|rowspan=2|Tokyo, Japan

| –

|1500 m

|DNF

bgcolor=gold|1st

|3000 m s'chase

|8:08.90

2022

|World Championships

|Eugene, OR, United States

|bgcolor=gold|1st

|3000 m s'chase

|8:25.13

2023

|World Championships

|Budapest, Hungary

|bgcolor=gold|1st

|3000 m s'chase

|8:03.53

2024

|Olympic Games

|Paris, France

|bgcolor="gold" | 1st

|3000 m s'chase

|8:06.05

=Circuit wins and titles=

Diamond League champion 3000 m steeplechase: 24px 2022{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-09-08 |title=World Leaders by Ingebrigtsen & Korir Highlight 2022 Diamond League Final |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2022/09/world-leaders-by-ingebrigtsen-korir-highlight-2022-diamond-league-final/ |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}}

:: 3000 metres steeplechase wins, other events specified in parentheses

:* 2017: Stockholm Bauhaus-galan, Rabat Meeting ({{AthAbbr|PB}}){{Cite web |title=Top track clashes across the board as athletes target trophies in Zurich |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/news/diamond-league-final-2022-weltklasse-zurich-day-two-track |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=worldathletics.org}}

:* 2018: Monaco Herculis ({{AthAbbr|WL}} PB) {{Cite news |author=Staff Writer |title=Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 3,000m Steeplechase in Monaco |work=Morocco world news |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2018/07/250976/morocco-soufiane-el-bakkali-3000m-steeplechase |access-date=17 October 2022}}

:* 2019: Doha Diamond League (WL), Monaco Herculis (WL),{{Cite news |author=Staff Writer |title=Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 3000m Steeplechase in Monaco for 2nd Time |work=Morocco world news |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/07/278083/moroccan-soufiane-el-bakkali-3000m-steeplechase-monaco |access-date=17 October 2022}} Meeting de Paris{{Cite news |last=Owen-Jones |first=Juliette |title=Paris Diamond League: Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Race Despite Bloody Foot |work=Morocco world news |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/08/281080/soufiane-bakkali-paris-diamond-league |access-date=17 October 2022}}

:* 2020: Monaco (WL){{Cite news |last=Mebtoul |first=Taha |title=Morocco's Soufian El Bakkali Breaks 2020 Steeplechase Record |work=Morocco world news |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/08/315520/moroccos-soufian-el-bakkali-breaks-2020-steeplechase-record |access-date=17 October 2022}}

:* 2021: Rome Golden Gala in Florence{{Cite news |last=Daoudi |first=Safae |title=Moroccan Athlete Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Race at Rome's Diamond League |work=Morocco world news |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/06/342851/moroccan-athlete-soufiane-el-bakkali-wins-race-at-romes-diamond-league |access-date=17 October 2022}}

:* 2022: Doha (WL),{{Cite news |last=Latrech |first=Oumaima |date=15 May 2022 |title=Moroccan Athlete Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Race At Doha's Diamond League |pages= |work=Morocco world news |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/05/349060/moroccan-athlete-soufiane-el-bakkali-wins-race-at-dohas-diamond-league |access-date=17 October 2022}} Rabat (WL {{AthAbbr|MR}}),{{Cite web |title=El Bakkali rocks Rabat with world-leading steeplechase victory |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/rabat-el-bakkali-warholm-thompson |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=www.worldathletics.org}} Lausanne Athletissima,{{Cite web |title=Programme 2022 |url=https://lausanne.diamondleague.com/startlistsresults/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=lausanne.diamondleague.com}} Zürich Weltklasse{{Cite news |last=Zouiten |first=Sara |title=Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 3,000M Title at Diamond Leauge[sic] Final |work=Morocco World News |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/09/351251/moroccos-soufian-el-bakkali-wins-3-000m-title-at-diamond-leauge-final |access-date=17 October 2022}}

:* 2023: Rabat (WL MR PB),{{Cite web |last=Mulkeen |first=Jon |date=28 May 2023 |title=El Bakkali, Tsegay and Mahuchikh impress in Rabat |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/rabat-el-bakkali-tsegay-mahuchikh |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=World Athletics}} Stockholm,{{Cite web |last=Erraji |first=Abdellah |title=Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 3,000 Meters Steeplechase in Stockholm |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/07/356256/moroccos-soufiane-el-bakkali-wins-3-000-meters-steeplechase-in-stockholm |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=moroccoworldnews |language=en}} Silesia (MR),{{Cite web |last=Rahhou |first=Jihane |title=Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Continues Winning Streak in Poland |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/07/356500/moroccos-soufiane-el-bakkali-continues-winning-streak-in-poland |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=moroccoworldnews |language=en}} Xiamen (MR){{Cite web |date=2023-09-02 |title=Moroccan El Bakkali wins 3,000m steeplechase in Xiamen |url=https://en.hespress.com/70222-moroccan-el-bakkali-wins-3000m-steeplechase-in-xiamen.html |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=HESPRESS English - Morocco News |language=en-US}}

World Continental Tour

:: 3000 metres steeplechase wins, other events specified in parentheses

:* 2022: Zagreb Hanžeković Memorial (2000 m st.){{Cite web |title=Home star Perkovic wins discus duel to cap season in Zagreb |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-continental-tour/news/boris-hanzekovic-memorial-zagreb-perkovic-holloway-ceh |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=World Athletics}}{{Cite web |title=Morocco's Champion Soufiane El Bakkali Wins 2,000 M Steeplechase in Zagreb |url=https://northafricapost.com/60708-moroccos-champion-soufiane-el-bakkali-wins-2000-m-steeplechase-in-zagreb.html |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=The North Africa Post}}

=Personal bests=

1500 metres – 3:31.95 (Doha 2021)
2000 metres indoor – 5:00.55 (Liévin 2019)
3000 metres – 7:33.87 (Doha 2023)
3000 metres indoor – 7:41.88 (Liévin 2018)
5000 metres – 13:47.76 (Rabat 2014)
5000 metres indoor – 13:10.60 (Birmingham 2017) {{AthAbbr|NR|Moroccan}}
2000 metres steeplechase – 5:14.06 (Zagreb 2022) {{AthAbbr|NR|Moroccan}} African best
3000 metres steeplechase – 7:56.68 (Rabat 2023) the fastest time in the world for 11 years, 8th of all time

Awards

Confederation of African Athletics Best Male Athlete of the Year: 2022{{Cite web |date=2022-12-21 |title=البقالي أفضل عدّاء في إفريقيا لعام 2022 |url=https://www.hespress.com/البقالي-أفضل-عدّاء-في-إفريقيا-لعام-2022-1096179.html |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية |language=ar}}{{Cite web |last=Zouiten |first=Sara |title=Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali Selected as Africa's Best Male Athlete of 2022 |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/12/353152/moroccos-soufiane-el-bakkali-selected-as-africas-best-male-athlete-of-2022 |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=moroccoworldnews |language=en}}
Commander of the Order of the Throne: 2024{{Cite web |title=HM the King Receives Olympic Champion Soufiane El Bakkali in Tetouan |url=https://www.mapnews.ma/en/activites-royales/hm-king-receives-olympic-champion-soufiane-el-bakkali-tetouan |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Maghreb Arabe Press}}