JEDDAH, 13 November 2004 — Moroccan Hicham El-Guerrouj, 30, who won two gold medals at this year’s Athens Olympics, said that he attained the pinnacle of his life when he saw the Holy Kaaba for the first time in his life.
Guerrouj, the king of the mile, was in the Kingdom to perform Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan, and his feelings welled over when he visited the Grand Mosque.
“My happiness knew no bounds when I saw the Holy Kaaba for the first time in my life. It is the peak of my life. I have never felt such happiness although I have won several medals and laurels at international level,” Guerrouj told Arriyadiah, a sister publication of Arab News.
Guerrouj, born on Sept. 14, 1974, is a world record setting middle distance athlete who has now moved up to compete in long distance events. Next athletics season in 2005 he plans to better Kenenisa Bekele’s world record of 12min.37sec in the 5000m.
Born in Berkane, Morocco, Guerrouj began running at the international level in 1994. He rose to international prominence in the mid-1990s with near-record times in the 1,500 meters and mile. In 1996, he finished a disappointing eighth at the Atlanta Olympics.
Guerrouj later made up for it by winning four consecutive world titles in 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003.
El Guerrouj broke the world record in the mile set by Noureddine Morceli of Algeria on July 14, 1998. He lowered the record to its current 3 minutes, 43 seconds at Rome in 1999.
At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, he finished second in the 1,500 meters. He won the gold medal in both the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Prince Nawaf ibn Muhammad, chairman of the Saudi Athletic Federation, hosted a reception on Wednesday at his palace here in honor of Guerrouj. “Guerrouj is an exemplary sportsman,” Prince Nawaf said, adding that he has won the love and affection of all Arab sportsmen and officials. “People love him because of his humbleness,” he said.
Guerrouj said he wished to perform Umrah to thank God for giving him the power and caliber to perform so superbly in international athletic competitions. “A Muslim sportsman enjoys both the power of faith and self confidence, which enables him to make big achievements.”
The Moroccan athlete was immensely happy on winning 1,500 and 5,000 races at Athens. “By winning both the golds I was able to bring happiness to millions of Arabs including my countrymen,” he said. “Every gold medal I have won is a gift to Arabs, who have supported me and prayed for my victory,” he said.
