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Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali wins back-to-back Olympic men’s steeplechase gold

The reigning world record holder in the event, Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma, tripped while jumping over a steeple barrier, fell hard and was transported to hospital

steeplechase Paris Photo by: Kevin Morris

In a thrilling 3,000m men’s steeplechase final, despite some who doubted he was in top shape, Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali defended his Olympic title, winning gold with a time of 8:06.05. El Bakkali, who also claimed gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Championships, showed his dominance once again. American Kenneth Rooks earned a surprise silver with a personal best of 8:06.41, while Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot took bronze in 8:06.47.

Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, the world record holder in the event with a time of 7:52.11, was poised to challenge for a top position, but took a severe fall in the final lap and did not get up, appearing to lose consciousness. He left the Stade de France on a stretcher and was rushed to hospital. He won silver behind El Bakkali at Tokyo 2020.

Rooks made a move to the front with 300 metres to go, avoiding Girma’s fall that disrupted a majority of the field. Rooks and Kibiwot challenged El Bakkali in a three-way race to the line down the home straight, with the Moroccan successfully defending his 3,000m steeplechase title.

Quebec City’s Jean-Simon Desgagnés finished 13th in 8:19.31. Desgagnés squeaked into the final, by three one-hundredths of a second, running 8:25.28 in the semis. “I would have liked top 10 or top eight, but it’s not a bad day,” Desgagnés said after the race. “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, but there are things I have to work on to be the best in the world. 

Jean-Simon Desgagnés
Jean-Simon Desgagnés in the final of the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at Paris 2024. Photo: Nick Iwanyshyn

This was the second straight major championship final for Desgagnés. At the 2023 World Championships, he finished eighth. “When I come to a big championship like the Olympics or world championships, I’m not here just to be in the final, I’m here to be in the top 10. So it’s a confidence booster [to go back-to-back in major championship finals], but I want to be in the top 10.”

When asked what he thinks he needs to get to that top 10 level, he responded, “I think it’s a combination of fitness and strategy, mental prep… so, going into the final knowing it will be fast, I need to be able to sustain that kind of pace, and that comes with training … I have to work on that 2:40/km pace, and be able to hold it forever, and I have to be ready to kick, even at that pace. It’s a combination of speed and endurance.” 

Desgagnés is entering his final year of medical school; he plans to race at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland on Aug. 25. 


Athletics events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are taking place from Aug. 1-11. Today’s coverage is brought to you by Canadian Running and PUMA Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.

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