Kenyan athletics legend Moses Kiptanui has said that Soufiane El Bakkali has had an exceptional season.
In an exclusive statement to Le Site info, the triple world champion, famous for his exploits in long-distance running and particularly in the 3,000 meters steeplechase, indicated that the 2nd place won by the Moroccan in the 3,000 m steeplechase event, as part of the Diamond League final, is quite normal, recalling that El Bakkali has not lost for three years.
“Fatigue got the better of him, especially after the gold medal he won at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also looked exhausted in Poland, when he won the 3000m steeplechase at the Silesia meeting last August,” Kiptanui confided.
For the Kenyan, Soufiane El Bakkali is an intelligent athlete “who knows how to win tactical races like the one in the 2024 Olympics.” “He also won against the great Lamecha Girma, thus reaping the fruits of his perseverance,” he said.
Kiptanui made athletics history in the 1990s. He is best known for being the first man to break the 8-minute barrier in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 1995, setting a world record with a time of 7 minutes 59 seconds. This achievement solidified his place as a pioneer in the discipline.
Kiptanui also won several major titles during his career, including three gold medals at the World Athletics Championships (1991, 1993 and 1995) in the 3,000 metres steeplechase and a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He also broke world records in other distance events, such as the 2,000 metres and the 5,000 metres.
HM
