MoroccoBiography
Olympic and World champion, world record holder. Considered greatest miler by many.
Fascinated by Morrocan legend Said Aouita, his first global medal came in 5000m race in World Junior, the race won by another athletics great Haile Gebrselassie. Just the age of 20, he got 1500m silver medal in World Champs behind world record holder Noureddine Morceli. After that race, the authorities have been matched Hicham with Morceli frequently and considered him as a successor.
In Atlanta 1996 Olympics, 1500 metres final saw the most bizarre moment of the athletics history. Young favorite El Guerrouj fell down just before the last lap and Morceli went to win comfortably.
Starting from disastrous Atlanta final, he won 51 of 52 contested official races in 1500 metres or mile until 2000 Sydney Olympics. Hicham won nearly everything during that four-year cushion, three World titles (one in indoor), numerous Golden League meeting wins, World Cups, 1500m and mile world records and much more...
Although he arrives Sydney with a huge confidence and being certain favorite to gold, he did not manage to take it. The unknown Kenyan Noah Ngeny, who paced Hicham at his stunning 3:26:00 world record two years ago in Rome, outsprinted the Moroccan legend at the final stretch.
El Guerrouj started once again to his Olympic dream in 2001. He won two more World titles and - again - numerous victories until 2004 Athens. But this time was little bit different: He was looking beatable comparing with 2000 due to his relatively poor form prior to the Games. Contested only five race in 2004 summer, lost two of them, including heart-breaking 8th place finish in Rome Golden Gala.
But in Athens, the athletics gods blessed him finally not only one, but two golds. He conquered eternal Olympics capital as winning both 1500m and 5000m titles, repeat only feat that achieved by Paavo Nurmi in 1924 Games.
El Guerrouj was not raced in any competition after his Athens triumph, but officially retired in May 2006. He inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame in 20014.
PERSONAL BESTS
800m: 1:47:18 (1995)
1500m: 3:26:00 (1998) WR
1500m indoor: 3:31.18 (1997)
Mile: 3:43:13 (1998) WR
Mile indoor: 3:48.45 (1997)
2000m: 4:44.79 (1997) WR
3000m: 7:23.09 (1999)
5000m: 12:50.24 (2003)
TRIVIA
♦ Grew up in modest Berber family with six children. Father Ayachi was a street vendor.
♦ First sport was football. When he was fourteen, became a goalkeeper at Berkane youth team.
♦ He clocked most races (33) under 3:30.00 in 1500 metres than any other athlete in history.
♦ His coached by Abdelkader Kada from 1992 to end of his career, but discovered first by Aziz Daouda, technical director of Moroccan Federation.
♦ IAAF Athlete of The Year Award: 2001, 2002, 2003.
♦ He has numerous appointments and affiliations: IOC Member, UNICEF Ambassador for Morocco, IOC Role Model in first Youth Olympics in Singapore 2010.
♦ Studied marketing in University of Oregon in 2009.
♦ He was nominated for Moroccan Athletics Federation presidency in 2019, lost to Abdeslam Ahizoune.
Text by S.F.Erbay