Soufiane El Bakkali, the Moroccan Olympic champion in the 3000m steeplechase, has set his sights on breaking the world record in the event at the 2026 Rabat Diamond League meeting. The event is scheduled for May 31, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco.
El Bakkali, who won gold at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, is aiming for a historic third consecutive Olympic title at Los Angeles 2028. However, for the 2026 season, his primary goal is to surpass the world record of 7:53.63 set by Saif Saaeed Shaheen in 2004.
According to his coach, Karim Tlemçani, El Bakkali has been training specifically for this record attempt, focusing on speed and endurance. The Rabat Diamond League, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, is expected to provide ideal conditions for the attempt.
If successful, El Bakkali would become the first Moroccan to hold the world record in the 3000m steeplechase since Hicham El Guerrouj's 1500m record. The athlete has expressed confidence in his preparation but acknowledged the challenge of breaking a record that has stood for over two decades.
