Hicham El Guerrouj
14 November 2011
Double Olympic gold medalist in Middle Distance
Hicham El Guerrouj (born September 14, 1974, Berkane) is a Moroccan former middle distance runner. He is credited by some as the greatest middle-distance runner of all time. Retired since 2006, the greatest middle-distance runner of all time still holds three world records (1500m, 2000m, mile). Also known as the « King of the Mile », Hicham El Guerrouj is a double Olympic gold medallist.
In 1996 he received one of his numerous recognitions, the award to humanitarian effort from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Also, the Moroccan runner legend is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He was named best athlete of the year by the IAAF in 2001 and 2002. In fact he remained unbeaten in more than 20 races and became the first man to win athlete of the year titles in consecutive years since the award was created in 1988.
In 2002, he was chosen as best athlete of the year by the prestigious athletics journal Track and Field News. In 2003, he was also top of the world athletics list and was elected as a member of the IAAF Athletes Committee. El Guerrouj was decorated with the ‘Cordon de Commandeur’ by king Mohamed VI of Morroco in 2004. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee Athletes Commission.