Olympic Glory: Meet The Arab Athletes with Back-to-Back Gold Medals
Making his nation proud, Moroccan runner Soufiane El Bakkali kept his winning streak going by winning the men’s 3,000m steeplechase. This makes him the third Arab to win double gold. To mark the occasion, let us take a look at all three Arabs who won double gold thus far.
Soufiane El Bakkali
El Bakkali’s win made him not only the third Arab to win back-to-back gold medals but also the first man to win back-to-back 3,000m steeplechase gold medals in the Olympics since 1932. He earned this special win by completing his race at 8:06.05 (8 minutes and 6 seconds).
Hicham El Guerrouj
Another proud Moroccan, Hicham El Guerrouj, is a middle-distance runner who is known as a two-time Olympic champion. He won double gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and became the first man in 80 years to win both the 1500m and 5000m titles in the same Olympics.
Oussama Mellouli
Considered one of the most versatile and graceful swimmers in open water, Tunisian Oussama Melllouli is better known as the athlete who won 1,500m gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the open-water marathon in London four years later, another special double gold winner.
Earning a double gold showcases the power, skill, and versatility of all three athletes. Here’s hoping that more Arabs will earn this coveted title in the upcoming years.
