Overview

Hicham El Guerrouj is a retired Moroccan middle-distance runner, widely regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance runners in history. He is best known for his dominance in the 1500 meters, mile, and 2000 meters, holding the world records in these events. El Guerrouj’s career is highlighted by his double gold medal performance at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he won both the 1500 meters and the 5000 meters, becoming the first man since 1924 to achieve this feat. He also won four consecutive World Championship titles in the 1500 meters (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003) and set the current world records for the 1500 meters (3:26.00), the mile (3:43.13), and the 2000 meters (4:44.79).

Known for his smooth running style and tactical acumen, El Guerrouj dominated middle-distance running from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. His achievements earned him multiple accolades, including being named the IAAF World Athlete of the Year on several occasions. After retiring from competitive athletics, El Guerrouj has been involved in various charitable activities and has served as an ambassador for athletics.