Hicham El Guerrouj
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hicham El Guerrouj (left) |
||
| Men's athletics | ||
Competitor for  Morocco |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 2004 Athens | 1500 m |
| Gold | 2004 Athens | 5000 m |
| Silver | 2000 Sydney | 1500 m |
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 1997 Athens | 1500 m |
| Gold | 1999 Sevilla | 1500 m |
| Gold | 2001 Edmonton | 1500 m |
| Gold | 2003 Paris | 1500 m |
| Silver | 1995 Gothenburg | 1500 m |
| Silver | 2003 Paris | 5000 m |
| World Indoor Championships | ||
| Gold | 1995 Barcelona | 1500 m |
| Gold | 1997 Paris | 1500 m |
| Gold | 2001 Lisbon | 3000 m |
| Golden League | ||
| Gold | 1998 Rome | 1500m |
| Gold | 1998 Rome | mile |
| Gold | 2000 Berlin | 1500m |
| Gold | 2000 Berlin | mile |
| Gold | 2001 Brussels | 1500m |
| Gold | 2001 Brussels | mile |
| Gold | 2001 Brussels | 2000m |
| Gold | 2002 Zurich | 1500m |
| Grand Prix | ||
| Gold | 1998 Rome | 1500m |
| Gold | 1999 Rome | mile |
| Grand Prix Indoor | ||
| Gold | 1997 Stuttgart | 1500m |
| Gold | 1997 Gand | mile |
Hicham El Guerrouj (Arabic: هشام الكروج, born September 14, 1974, Berkane) is a Moroccan former middle distance runner. He is the current holder of the 1500 metres, mile and outdoor 2000 metres world records, as well as a double Olympic gold medalist.
Contents |
Early career
Hicham El Guerrouj's first international triumph was in 1992 at age 18, when he was 3rd in the 5000 metres of the 1992 Junior World Championships in Seoul, behind Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia.
In 1994, he was a member of the Moroccan team in the 1994 IAAF World Road Relay Championships, which won the race in world record time.[1][2]
El Guerrouj rose to international prominence in the mid-1990s with near-record times in the 1500 metres and mile. At the age of 20 he finished second in the 1500 metres at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg. In 1996 after setting a new personal best over 1500 metres in 3:29.59 in Stockholm, he was considered one of the favourites for the Olympic gold.
1996 Atlanta Olympics - 1999 season
El Guerrouj competed in his first Olympic Games in 1996 at Atlanta. Running the 1500 meters final, as he was moving into position to challenge for the lead[3], he fell with 400 m to go and finished last in 12th place. He had been expected to challenge the world record holder and three-time World champion, Noureddine Morceli.[4][5]
One month later, at the Grand Prix final in Milan, El Guerrouj became the first runner to defeat Morceli over 1500 m in four years.[6] In the following years, El Guerrouj became the only middle distance runner to win four consecutive world titles in 1997 [7], 1999[8], 2001, and 2003[9]
El Guerrouj set two world indoor records at the start of the 1997 season, starting with a 1500 m record of 3:31.18 at the Sparkassen Cup and setting a new indoor best of 3:48.45 in the mile run at the Indoor Flanders meeting a few weeks later. In 1998 in Rome, El Guerrouj broke Morceli's 1500 m world record (3:27.37) with a time of 3:26.00.[10][11][12]
In 1999, also in Rome, El Guerrouj broke the world record in the mile set by Noureddine Morceli in 1993, with a time of 3:43.13 Noah Ngeny of Kenya, who ran second, was also under the previous world record with a time of 3:43.40. This was the first time in over 40 years that two men had bettered the world record in the same race.[13]
Later that season he set a new world record over 2000 m in Berlin at 4:44.79, bettering the previous mark set by Morceli by more than three seconds. He also ran the second fastest 3000 m ever in Brussels.
2000 Sydney Olympics - 2003 season
At the Sydney Olympics, El Guerrouj, finished second in the 1500 metres, behind Noah Ngeny,a Kenyan runner who ran as El Guerrouj's pacemaker when El Guerrouj ran his 1500 m world record in Rome in 1998.[14][15][16][17]
El Guerrouj defended his 1500 m title in the 2001 and 2003 World Championships and came close to breaking his own 1500 m record in Brussels in 2001 with a time of 3:26.12. He also won 3 consecutive IAAF Golden League prizes in 2001, 2002 and 2003. He was the only middle distance athlete to win streak necessary to be entitled for a share of the jackpot of 50 kilograms (1,608 troy ounces) of gold (2000–2002) or USD 1 million (1998–1999, 2003–present). He remains the only athlete to have won it three times in a row.
In 2003, El Guerrouj set a personal best of 12:50.24 in the 5000 metres. Later in the year, at the World Track & Field Championships, he finished a close second to Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge in the 5000 meters, adding a silver to the gold he had previously won in the 1500 meters.
2004 Athens Olympics and retirement
After a relatively poor start to the 2004 season that included slow times and an 8th place finish in a 1500 meter race in Rome, El Guerrouj won the gold medal in both the 1500 metres and 5000 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Only 20 days before the Olympic final, 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Bernard Lagat ran the fastest 1500 m in 2004 (3:27.40), narrowly defeating El Guerrouj (3:27.64) at the Weltklasse Zürich meet on August 6. However, on August 24, El Guerrouj beat Lagat by 0.12 seconds in the Olympic 1500 m final, winning the gold medal.[18]
Four days later El Guerrouj won the 5,000 m final with a time of 13:14.39 preventing Kenenisa Bekele from achieving the 5000 m/10000 m distance double, last achieved by Ethiopian Miruts Yifter in 1980 Moscow Olympics.[19]
El Guerrouj became then the first man in 80 years to win both 1500 m and 5000 m races in the same Olympics, last achieved by the "Flying Finn" Paavo Nurmi in 1924.
After the Olympics, El Geurrouj never again competed internationally, and announced his retirement on May 22, 2006.[20] [21]
Awards and honours
His sporting career is marked by numerous recognitions such as the award to humanitarian effort from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which he received in 1996. He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. El Guerrouj was named IAAF World Athlete of the Year in 2001 and 2002 after remaining unbeaten in more than 20 races, becoming the first man to win the award in consecutive years. He was also named best athlete of the year by the athletics journal Track and Field News in 2002. In 2003, he was elected as a member of the IAAF Athletes Committee.
On September 7, 2004, El Guerrouj was decorated with the "Cordon de Commandeur" by King Mohammed VI of Morocco. In the same year, he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Awards.[22]
He is a member of the International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission.
Personal bests
The following table includes El Guerrouj's personal best times as published by the IAAF:[23]
| Distance | Mark | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 meters | 1:43.18 | 1995-02-06 | |
| 1000 meters | 2:16.85 | 1999-07-12 | Nice |
| 1500 meters | 3:26.00 | 1998-07-14 | Rome |
| Mile | 3:43.13 | 1999-07-07 | Rome |
| 2000 meters | 4:44.79 | 1999-09-07 | Berlin |
| 3000 meters | 7:23.09 | 1999-09-03 | Brussels |
| 5000 meters | 12:50.24 | 2003-03-12 | Ostrava |
Titles and major results
(1500 meters unless indicated)
| Year (Age he turned in this year) | Competition | Place | Date | Rank | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 (21) | World Championship Indoor | Barcelona | 1995 March 11 | 1 | 3:44.54 | |
| 1995 World Championships | Gothenburg | 1995 August 13 | 2 | 3:35.28 | Noureddine Morceli(1) | |
| 1996 (22) | 1996 Atlanta Olympics | Atlanta | 1996 August 3 | 12 | 3:40.75 | (fell down) |
| 1997 (23) | Grand Prix | Stuttgart | 1997 February 2 | 1 | 3:31.18 | WR 1500 indoor |
| Grand Prix | Gand | 1997 February 12 | 1 | 3:48.45 (mile) | WR mile indoor | |
| World Championship Indoor | Paris | 1997 March 8 | 1 | 3:35.31 | ||
| 1997 World Championships | Athens | 1997 August 6 | 1 | 3:35.83 | Fermín Cacho(2) | |
| 1998 (24) | Grand Prix | Rome | 1998 July 14 | 1 | 3:26.00 | WR 1500 meters |
| 1999 (25) | Grand Prix | Rome | 1999 July 7 | 1 | 3:43.13 (mile) | WR mile; Noah Ngeny(2) |
| 1999 World Championships | Seville | 1999 August 24 | 1 | 3:27.65 | Noah Ngeny(2) | |
| Grand Prix Final | Berlin | 1999 September 7 | 1 | 4:44.79 (2000 meters) | WR 2000 meters | |
| 2000 (26) | 2000 Sydney Olympics | Sydney | 2000 September 29 | 2 | 3:32.32 | Noah Ngeny(1) |
| 2001 (27) | World Championship Indoor | Lisbon | 2001 March 11 | 1 | 7:37.74 (3000 meters) | |
| 2001 World Championships | Edmonton | 2001 August 5 | 1 | 3:30.68 | Bernard Lagat(2) | |
| 2003 (29) | 2003 World Championships | Paris | 2003 July 27 | 1 | 3:31.77 | Mehdi Baala(2) |
| 2003 August 31 | 2 | 12:52.83 (5000 meters) | Eliud Kipchoge(1) | |||
| 2004 (30) | 2004 Athens Olympics | Athens | 2004 August 24 | 1 | 3:34.18 | Bernard Lagat(2) |
| 2004 August 28 | 1 | 13:14.39 (5000 meters) | Kenenisa Bekele(2) |
See also
- World record progression for the mile run
- Fédération Royale Marocaine d’Athlétisme
- Saïd Aouita
External links
- Video of Hicham El Guerrouj breaking the mile world record
- IAAF profile for Hicham El Guerrouj
- El Guerrouj diary at IAAF
References and notes
- ↑ IAAF World Road Relay Championships result
- ↑ IAAF World Road Relay Championships Young Hicham el guerrouj in 1994 --- YouTube video
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_i9q-Djy-M 1996 Olympic 1500 final
- ↑ 1996 Atlanta Olympics sporting-heroes.net: El Guerrouj fell to the ground
- ↑ 1996 Atlanta Olympics YouTube video: Atlanta Olympics 1996 - Men's 1500m final
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20070210141511/wls3.com/running/elg.php
- ↑ YouTube video 1500m final - 1997 World Championships
- ↑ YouTube video 1500m final - 1999 World Championships
- ↑ YouTube video 1500m final - 2003 World Championships
- ↑ YouTube video: Hicham El Guerrouj sets a new world record at 1500m in 1998
- ↑ World Outdoor Lists 1500 Metres All Time MEN
- ↑ World Record progression of men 1500m
- ↑ YouTube video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvCsj7eJKKA&eurl= Hicham El Guerrouj sets a world record in the mile in 1999
- ↑ 2000 Sydney Olympics YouTube video: Men's 1500m
- ↑ 2000 Sydney Olympics Guardian: El Guerrouj, a picture of despair
- ↑ 2000 Sydney Olympics sporting-heroes.net: Noah Ngeny Olympic gold at 1500 metres
- ↑ 2000 Sydney Olympics sporting-heroes.net: El Guerrouj 'Only' the silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics
- ↑ 2004 Athens Olympics YouTube video: Men's 1500m final
- ↑ 2004 Athens Olympics YouTube video: Men's 5000m final
- ↑ El Guerrouj retires from track - cbc.ca
- ↑ King of Middle Distance, Hicham El Guerrouj retires - IAAF
- ↑ Thousands of asturian children of all ages to join Hicham El Guerrouj in a race for peace - fundacionprincipedeasturias.org
- ↑ iaaf.org, Biography, El Guerrouj Hicham, access date 2009-08-18
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Noureddine Morceli |
Men's 1500 m World Record Holder July 14, 1998 — |
Succeeded by — |
| Preceded by Noureddine Morceli |
Men's Mile World Record Holder July 7, 1999 – |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Awards and achievements | ||
Preceded by Haile Gebrselassie |
Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Year 1999 |
Succeeded by Virgilijus Alekna |
| Preceded by Virgilijus Alekna |
Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Year 2001 – 2003 |
Succeeded by Kenenisa Bekele |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by Haile Gebrselassie |
Men's 3000 m Best Year Performance 1999 |
Succeeded by Ali Saïdi-Sief |
Preceded by Benjamin Limo |
Men's 3000 m Best Year Performance 2003 |
Succeeded by Eliud Kipchoge |
| Preceded by Noureddine Morceli |
Men's 1500m Best Year Performance 1996 – 2003 |
Succeeded by Bernard Lagat |
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