Soufiane El Bakkali (L) celebrates winning the gold medal in the Men’s 3000-meters steeplechase during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 22, 2023.
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Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali won a second consecutive world championship title in the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase on Tuesday (Aug. 22), in Budapest.
Moroccan El Bakkali surprised 22-year-old Lamecha Girmawho broke the 19-year-old world record 2 months ago.
It is the fourth Bakkali medal wins in a row. At 27, he won silver in London in 2017, then bronze in Doha in 2019 and finally gold in Eugene (Oregon) USA.
In 8 min 03 sec 53, he had fought in the last lap to beat Ethiopian Girma (8:05.44), who had broken the world record for the specialty in Paris at the beginning of June (7:52.12).
Lamecha Girma finished second just like at the World Championships in Doha, Eugene and the Olympic Games.
Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot won bronze in 8:11:98.
