Hicham El Guerrouj

Hicham El Guerrouj (in Arab: هشامالكروج), born the September 14th 1974 with Berkane, is a athlete Morocco Ain.

Career

It began its international career in 1994 and immediately was essential among best the runners of medium-distance race, finishing second of the 1 500 meters of world of Gothenburg in 1995.

The Olympic Games of Atlanta, it failed finally of the 1.500 m a very disappointing 12th place whereas it had carried out all the race before falling to a turn from the arrival after being hung by its large Algerian rival Noureddine Morceli who thus benefitted and gained the victory from it.

It gained however, always over 1 500 m, 4 titles with the championships of the world of 1997 to 2003. The July 14th 1998 in Rome, it beats the world records held by Morceli. Its time of 3 ' 26" 00 minutes is still unconquered today.

With the Olympic Games of Sydney, it is the big favorite of the 1 500 Mr. It cracks in the last straight line and is beaten once again, this time by the Kenyan Noah Ngeny.

In 2003, with the championships of the world of Paris Saint-Denis, it was also aligned on 5 000 m and gained a money medal.

The Olympic Games of Athens are its last chance to gain Olympic gold and to enter the history like one of largest “the milers”. However the beginning of the season lets plane certain doubts: respiratory problems disturbed its preparation. Moreover, at the time of its re-entry, it is clearly beaten at the time of the Golden Official reception of Rome. Then at the time of the Weltklasse Zurich, ultimate repetition before the plays, it is again beaten by Bernard Lagat.

At the time of the Olympic finale, the curse seems to operate again: Bernard Lagat exceeds it and seems to leave to gain the gold medal. However, Hicham clings, returns and, centimetres per centimetres, for finally gaining Olympic gold.

Four days later, it is aligned on the 5 000 meters. Ethiopic and recordman of the world Kenenisa Bekele are the big favorite of the race. But the long-distance runners do not harden the race. That enables him to finish the last 400 meters in less than 53 seconds and to beat easily Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge.

It thus renews the exploit of large the Paavo Nurmi which had him also succeeded in the same exploit to gain the two Olympic titles of the 1 500 and of the 5 000 meters at the time of the Olympic Games of Paris in 1924.

After its doubled with the Olympic Games of Athens, Hicham El Guerrouj was decorated with the “Cord of Commander” by the King of Morocco Mohammed VI, on September 7th, 2004.

In 2004, it is named member of CIO.

Hicham El Guerrouj was elected better sportsman of the year 2004 in Morocco, it for the ninth time, the eighth of at a stretch.

The newspaper the Team elected it world sportsman of the year in 2004.

May 22nd 2006 it announced that it put a term at its career. But it continues to take part as a spectator in great international meetings as the Championships of the World of Cross-country race 2007 has Mombasa.