Tag: Athletes of North Africa

TUNISIA : World Athletics U20 Championships 2024: Tunisia’s Rayen Cherni wins gold in men’s 10,000m race walk, sets Championship record

Multiple area and national records broken in men’s 10,000m event at World Athletics U20 Championships 2024.

Rayen Cherni set a championship record in the men’s 10,000m race walk to win the first ever gold medal for Tunisia at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2024, while China’s Baima Zhuoma dominated the women’s race during the final morning session of action in Lima on Friday.

In a hard-fought men’s race, the top 17 all set area or national U20 records, or achieved PBs, with Cherni winning in an African U20 record of 39:24.85, Mexico’s Emiliano Barba securing silver in a North and Central American U20 record of 39:27.10 and Italy’s Giuseppe Disabato gaining bronze in a national U20 record of 39:31.25.

Australia’s Isaac Beacroft, who won the U20 title on the roads at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya in April, finished fourth on the track in Lima, setting an Oceanian U20 record of 39:36.39, while Japan’s Sohtaroh Osaka finished fifth in a PB of 39:39.36.

It was Germany’s Frederick Weigel who had taken the early lead, but Osaka, Beacroft and Kenya’s Stephen Ndangiri Kihu took control by the halfway point, passed in 20:05.03.

As the pace gradually picked up, the lead pack whittled down, and Barba, Disabato and Cherni made their break. Six athletes remained in contention with four laps to go and eventually 17-year-old Cherni left his rivals behind to win by more than two seconds.

China’s Baima Zhuoma claims gold with personal best in women’s 10,000m race walk at World Athletics U20 Championships 2024

In the women’s race, Baima looked calm and in control throughout. The field quickly spaced out and the 19-year-old, who claimed Asian U20 silver in April, was well clear as she passed the 5000m mark in 21:47.33.

She was followed by India’s Aarti and her Chinese teammate Chen Meiling, last year’s Asian U20 champion, with Romania’s 17-year-old Alessia Cristina Pop, the European U18 silver medallist, looking determined behind them.

While Baima was never under threat, Aarti seemed to be moving away from Chen, but with two red cards Aarti had to be cautious and Chen made her move, passing her rival with three and a half laps to go.

Baima maintained her lead to cruise to victory in a world U20 lead and big PB of 43:26.60, as Chen held on for silver to complete a 1-2 for China in a PB of 44:30.67. Aarti claimed bronze in an Indian U20 record of 44:39.39, while Pop also set a national U20 record of 44:54.32 in fourth. Similar to the men’s race, the top 16 all set national records or PBs.

source/content: khelnow.com (headline edited)

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(Courtesy : @WorldAthletics/Twitter)

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TUNISIA

ALGERIA: Hassiba Boulmerka: The trailblazing Algerian star who defied death threats to win Olympic gold

The former Algerian middle-distance runner won her country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. She navigated a deadly and divisive political crisis within her nation to emerge as “a symbol of victory and defiance”.

Hassiba Boulmerka and her family received death threats, and she was even denounced as anti-Islam at her local mosque.

However, in her home country of Algeria, there was no safe space for her to run.

The world 1500m world champion feared that radical Islamist militants would kill her, and the surrounding atmosphere was equally terrifying.

But despite the risks, the ‘Constantine Gazelle’ continued to train, running even faster and defying the threats to her life.

A year after clinching the first of her two world titles, she made history at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, winning the first Olympic gold for Algeria .

Hassiba Boulmerka: Africa’s first world track champion

Running had been Boulmerka’s way of life since the age of 10.

Growing up in Constantine, in the east of Algeria, she gained recognition for her speed and stamina, which led her to claim four African gold medals in the 800m and 1500m.

Two years after her double triumph at the continental championships, she stunned the field, sprinting to the lead in the homestretch of the 1500m race to clinch the gold.

It was a glorious moment for Boulmerka, as she became the first African woman to earn a World Championships title.

“I screamed for joy and for shock, and for much more,” she said. “I was screaming for Algeria’s pride and Algeria’s history, and still more.”

Her triumph was significant, symbolising progress for Algerian sport and Arab women.

Despite the heroic reception that awaited her and her teammates upon their return from the 1991 World Championships, her running didn’t quite resonate with everyone.

Her sporting endeavours continued to be frowned upon.

Training and competing meant exposing her arms and legs, which was perceived as not adhering to Islam’s code of modesty.

Hassiba Boulmerka was labelled ‘anti-Muslim’ for choosing to run

Boulmerka pressed ahead, enduring the criticism.

She faced hostility, being spat on and having to dodge stones thrown at her while training on Algerian roads.

In a matter of months, her hopes and dreams of participating in the Olympics started to fade as her country was plunged into civil unrest, resulting in over 150,000 lives lost.

Training became not only impossible but also dangerous during the crisis, with Islamist militants seeking to impose oppressive rule.

She was forced to relocate to Berlin to train ahead of the 1992 Olympic Games.

“I remember it well,” she recalled in an interview with the BBC. “It was Friday prayers at our local mosque, and the imam said that I was not a Muslim, because I had run in shorts, shown my arms and my legs. He said I was anti-Muslim.”

When she arrived in Barcelona just before her event, Boulmerka was accompanied by armed escorts into the stadium, highlighting the unprecedented security measures.

“There were police everywhere. In the stadium, in the changing rooms – they even came with me to the bathroom!” she said.

Despite these challenges, the ‘Constantine Gazelle’, as she was affectionately dubbed for her agile and graceful running style, defied the odds and her performance at the Estádio Olímpico was remarkable.

Hassiba Boulmerka: A heroine for women in sport

The Unified Team’s Lyudmila Rogacheva set the pace for most of the 1500m race before the Algerian powered past her with half a lap to go, securing her greatest career victory. Her time of three minutes, 55.30 seconds earned her the Olympic gold medal, marking the second time second time an Arab woman had stood atop the Games podium (after Morocco’s Nawal El-Moutawakel at Los Angeles 1984).

It was a beautiful ending after months of navigating political challenges – an example of ‘courage in defying taboos and pursuing passion’.

“As I crossed the line, I thrust a fist into the air. It was a symbol of victory, of defiance. It was to say: ‘I did it! I won! And now, if you kill me, it’ll be too late. I’ve made history!'”

As Boulmerka stood on the podium, feeling the weight of the medal around her neck, she was overwhelmed by emotions.

“I tried to hold myself together, to be brave…but the tears just started to fall. They were tears of sacrifice, for all the people I loved that I had abandoned for this race.

“It was a triumph for women all over the world to stand up to their enemies. That’s what made me really proud.”

There was no fanfare when the two-time Olympian returned home to reunite with her family.

Algeria was still far away from the end of its dark period, prompting he exile in Cuba before she returned to Algeria after recapturing the gold medal at the 1995 World Championships.

Her medals stand as a testament to her courage, and Hassiba Boulmerka continues to serve as a beacon of inspiration for women in sport.

source/content: olympics.com (headline edited)

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(Getty Images)

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ALGERIA

MOROCCO: 19-year Salaheddine Benyazide Wins 3000m Steeple Bronze ‘2022 World Athletics U20 Championships, Cali 22’

Moroccan athlete Salaheddine Benyazide won the bronze medal in the men’s 3000m steeplechase race on Saturday, as part of the Cali 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships, Columbia.

The young athlete was able to snatch the third place with a time of 8 minutes, 40 seconds, and 62 milliseconds, coming right behind the Ethiopians Samuel Duguna and Samuel Firewu.

Duguna achieved a time of 8 minutes, 37 seconds, and 92 milliseconds, while Firewu’s time came in at 8 minutes, 39 seconds, and 11 milliseconds.

The time is Benyazide’s fourth best in this race category, with his personal best being 8 minutes, 19 seconds, and 63 milliseconds, achieved earlier this year in Rabat.

The medal is Benyazide’s first on the world stage. Having been active in Morocco’s athletic scene since 2021, the 19 year-old athlete started participating in international races in 2022.

Celebrations and support have been pouring in following the young Moroccan’s medal, and many have hailed Benyazide’s success on the global stage as an achievement not only for Morocco, but for Arab athletics in general.

As he is participating in more international events this year, the young athlete is widely expected to represent Morocco more often on the world stage in the coming years, following in the footsteps of other Moroccans to preserve the country’s increasingly stellar athletics record.

Ethiopian athletes took the gold and silver medals in the race.

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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MOROCCO

Moroccan-Spanish Mohamed Katir Wins Silver Medal at ‘European Championships 2022’, Munich,Germany

Moroccan-Spanish athlete Mohamed Katir won on Tuesday a silver medal after finishing second in the 5,000 meters final at the European Championships. The tournament is taking place between August 11 and 21 in Munich, Germany.

Katir finished the race in 13 minutes, 22 seconds, and 98 milliseconds, behind the gold medalist Norway’s Jacob Ingebrigsten, who recorded a time of 13 minutes, 21 seconds, and 13 milliseconds. Italy’s Yemanebrhan Crippa finished third with a time of 13 minutes, 24 seconds, and 83 milliseconds.

Nine minutes and 30 seconds into the race, French runner Hugo Hay, who was positioned between fourth and fifth place,  fell to the ground and was unable to recover, finishing 19th in the race.

The Moroccan-born holds impressive records in medium and long-distance running competitions. Katir is the 27th all-time fastest runner to ever compete at Golden Gala, an annual track and field event.

The runner won the record after completing 5,000 meters in a personal best time of 12 minutes, 50 seconds, and 79 milliseconds in June 2021.

Last month, Katir claimed a bronze medal in the 1,500 meters race at the World Athletics Championships held in Oregon, the United States.

Katir was born in 1998 in the Moroccan city of Ksar El Kebir but immigrated to Spain with his family when he was a young child. He received Spanish nationality in 2019, allowing him to compete under the Spanish flag since January 1, 2020.

source/contents: moroccoworldnews.com (edited)

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Moroccan-Spanish Mohamed Katir Wins Silver Medal at European Championships

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SPAIN / MOROCCO

WORLD RECORD: MOROCCO: Soufiane El Bakkali Creates History Wins Gold in Steeplechase at the ‘World Athletics Championships’, Eugene,USA. Creates History- Becomes First Moroccan Athlete to Win Gold in 3,000m Steeplechase at World Championships.

After his recent achievement, El Bakkali became the “king of steeplechase.”.

King Mohammed VI sent on Tuesday a message to Moroccan steeplechase runner Soufiane El Bakkali, congratulating him on winning the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, US.

The Moroccan athlete brought Morocco its first gold in the 3,000m steeplechase in this year’s World Championships, ending Kenya’s 15-year reign in the discipline at the international competition.

The King expressed his appreciation for El Bakkali’s achievement, saying that the Moroccan athlete “was able, thanks to his competitive spirit and patriotism, to achieve this well-deserved victory.”

“As we commend this well-deserved global crown, with which you raised the flag of Morocco in this prestigious international event, we wish you success in your rich sporting career, covered by our generous sympathy and satisfaction,” the King added.

A teary-eyed El Bakkali raised the Moroccan flag after his triumph, telling the media he was dedicating this win to King Mohammed VI, his parents, and to all the Moroccans who have shown him endless support and encouragement.

Several international media reporting on El Bakkali’s recent achievement described him as the “king of steelechase” after claiming world title.

He added, “After the semi-final I had a good look at the strategy of the Kenyan athletes. I was on my own, the only Moroccan in the race, but I did not limit myself to winning silver nor bronze. Instead I managed to come first in two world league meetings and now the World Championship.”

El Bakkali began earning his first medals at international events at the 2017 World Championship in London, where he placed second, before finishing first in the 2018 Mediterranean Games in Spain.

In August 2021, Soufiane El Bakkali gave Moroccans a moment of pride after his historic achievement at the Olympics, ending Kenya’s dominance over the men’s 3,000m steeplechase and winning the gold medal at Tokyo 2020. 

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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MOROCCO