With just a few weeks left until the kick-off of the most important sporting event of the season, the Paris 2024 Olympic Gameswhich start on July 26 and end on August 11. Like previous editions of the Olympic Games, the Morocco will be represented by several athletes who will compete in different sporting events on the Games program. While the Moroccan delegation was made up of only 47 athletes in Tokyo in 2020, the number of Moroccan athletes qualified for the 2024 edition in Paris is 55, competing in 18 sporting disciplines. A provisional list expected to expand in the coming days, as other athletes still have the possibility of qualifying via the minimum system, the world ranking or through wild cards granted by the National Olympic Committee.
High hopes for medals in football and athletics
2023 African Champion, the U23 national selection will be the only Moroccan team competing in a team sport event at the Olympics. Housed in Group B along with Argentina, Ukraine and Iraq, the protégés of Tarik Sectioui will try to do like their elders at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, by creating a surprise in Paris. A mission that seems difficult for the Atlas Lion Cubsbut given the quality of the players available to the national coach, the team has the means to go far in the competition. Athleticsthe number of athletes qualified as of July 2 is eleven. Among these athletes is the Olympic champion and world champion in the 3,000m steeplechase, Soufiane El Bakkaliwho will try to make history by winning a second Olympic medal. Another athlete who could make headlines at these Olympic Games, Fatima Ezzahra Gardadibronze medalist in the marathon at the last edition of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, who will try to do the same or better in Paris.
These Moroccan athletes capable of creating a surprise in Paris
Besides football and athletics, other Moroccan athletes could achieve good results at this edition of the Olympic Games. In women’s boxing, Khadija El Mardi has a good chance of achieving a feat by winning a gold medal. World heavyweight champion (+81 kg) at the last boxing world championships in India, El Mardi is determined to do Morocco proud by snatching gold in Paris in the light heavyweight category (75 kg). In the surfing events, Ramzi Boukhiam is also in top form this season. The Moroccan rider has achieved good results on the international circuit this season against the best surfers on the planet and can claim a place on the Olympic podium. In Taekwondo, Fatima Zahra Abou Fares carries Morocco’s hopes in this discipline. Gold medalist at the 2018 edition of the Youth Olympics, Abou Farès has achieved good results this season. Another Moroccan athlete to watch in Paris is Mathis Soudi in canoe-kayak slalom, who won the bronze medal at the world championship in London.
