Hicham El Guerrouj

Hicham El Guerrouj is a well-known Moroccan runner. Hicham El Guerrouj is considered an ace long-distance runner and middle-distance runner. Hicham also boasts seven of the ten fastest mile times. Furthermore, he stunned the world by winning both the 5000m and 1500m gold in the same Olympic tournament.

He is also the first athlete to hold the world record in both the outdoor and indoor 1,500-meter races.

He has also won four world championships and two Olympic gold medals.

Family & Childhood

Hicham El Guerrouj was born in Berkane, Oriental, on September 14, 1974.

He is also known as “King of the Mile”.

He is one of his parents’ seven children. Hicham’s family used to own a tiny Moroccan restaurant.

Hicham also went a mile away from his family’s eatery to fetch bread from a bakery.

When he jogged a mile to the bakery and returned to the restaurant, his sibling used to cheer him up.

Moreover, despite his current celebrity, no information about his family has been made public.

Hicham, on the other hand, was a huge football fan. In his hometown, he played goalkeeper for the local football team.

Hicham, on the other hand, stopped playing football because his mother couldn’t keep up with washing his filthy clothes every day.

As a result, he was advised to refrain from playing football and instead assist with other household responsibilities.

Hicham began running to channel his dynamic energy. When he was 14, he even came in second place in a cross-country race.

Hicham won the national cross-country championship a year later as a result.

Not to add that, despite his parents’ wishes, Guerrouj joined the National Training Center and trained as a runner.

He was also a coach for the Abdelkader Kada team.

As a result, he promised himself that he couldn’t afford to lose since he needed to show his family that he had made the right choice.

Nationality & Zodiac Sign

Hicham’s zodiac sign is Virgo, according to astrology.

Individuals born under the sign of Virgo are detail-oriented and have a strong sense of humanity.

Hicham is also noted for approaching life as though there are no second chances.

His ability to articulate himself, on the other hand, is frequently misconstrued.

Height, Weight, and Age

Hicham El Guerrouj will be 47 years old in 2022. He can stay physically strong and healthy notwithstanding his age.

He also maintains a similar diet and fitness routine in his daily life.

He stands at a towering 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs roughly 56 kilograms.

His physical stature is slender due to his competitive running background.

Facts of Hicham El Guerrouj

Net Worth and Income

Hicham El Guerrouj’s current net worth stands at an estimated $10 million.

However, despite his popularity and wealth, he prefers to humble and straightforward lifestyle. Hicham loves spending time with his family and friends.

Career Track

Said Aouita, a fellow countryman who won the gold medal in the 5,000m run at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, inspired Hicham.

Hicham was encouraged to become an athlete as a result, and he began jogging as a youngster.

Hicham, being 18 years old, competed in the 1992 Junior World Championships in Seoul. He came in third place in the 5000m race, behind Ismael Kirui and Haile Gebrselassie.

Hicham also came in second place at the World Junior Cross Country Championships.

Hicham then went after Noureddine Morceli in Algeria. Morceli was the world’s best middle-distance runner, and Hicham regarded him as a formidable opponent.

Hicham finished second to Morceli in the 1995 outdoor Olympics 1,500m race.

Hicham also competed in one of his most dramatic races at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Hicham lost the lead to Morceli in the 1,500m race after stumbling on his opponent’s feet. As a result, he crashed just 400 meters from the finish line.

El Guerrouj was upset, but he returned to the circuit and finished last. He also sobbed violently on his way back to the Stadium tunnel after the race.

Despite the sad situation, Hicham remained optimistic and committed to defeating Morceli.

He finally caught Morceli and won the Grand Prix final in Milan, Italy, the following year.

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The Mile’s King

Hicham did not stop after his victory and continued on his path. In addition, in 1997, he only lost one race.

Hicham also sets new world records in the 1,500m indoor race (3 minutes 48 seconds) in the indoor mile (3 minutes 48 seconds).

In addition, in 1999, he continued his record-breaking trend by setting a world record in the mile with a timing of 3 minutes 43.13 seconds. It was the quickest mile ever run, and the record still holds today.

During the outdoor world championships, he also won the 1,500-meter race.

El Guerrouj also earned a silver medal in the 1,500m race in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. In 2001 and 2003, he also won the global title.

After winning the 5,000m race, the Moroccan athlete added another gold medal to his collection. Guerrouj competed in 86 finals in the 1,500m and mile throughout his ten-year professional career.

He won 83 of these races, with two of his three losses coming in the Olympics.

Awards

In 1996, Hicham was honored by the International Association of Athletics Federations for his humanitarian activities. In addition, he was named IAAF World Athlete of the Year in 2001, 2002, and 2003.

He also received the IAAF Golden League award for his unbeaten streak of over 20 races. Hicham became the first athlete to win the award for three years in a row.

Hicham was also named the best athlete of the year in 2002 by “Track and Field.” In addition, he was elected to the IAAF Athletes Committee in 2004.

Apart from the awards, El Guerrouj also won a share of the $1 million jackpot of 50 kilograms of gold. El is the only person to win it three times in a row.

Achievements and Highlights

El Guerrouj set a new world record while running the mile in 1999.

He broke the previous record set by Morceli with a time of 3:43.13.

In addition, Hicham set a new world record in Berlin at 4:44.79 in the 2000m race.

The Olympic medalist broke the previous record by more than three seconds.

Moreover, he also ran the second-fastest 3,000m race, which was held in Brussels.

Post-Retirement

Further, after his retirement, Hicham fulfilled the role of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Additionally, he was a member of the IOCAC (International Olympic Committee Athlete’s Commission) from 2004 to 2012.

Besides, El Guerrouj is also the Ambassador for Peace and Sport, a Monaco-based international organization.

Moreover, he also spends his time in the “Champions for Peace” club. It is a committee filled with 54 famous athletes.

Wife, Daughter, and Personal Life

Hicham El Guerrouj is currently married and content. He and his lovely bride, Najoua Lahbil, exchanged wedding vows.

When the two began dating, she was a student at the University Al Akhwaine.

Hicham guards his family’s information with the same care he guards his own personal information.

Similarly, shortly after Hachim’s victory at the World 1500m Championships, the couple had a baby girl.

The kid was born in a private hospital on the outskirts of Rabat to Hachim’s wife, Nahoua Lahbil. The infant was baptised at Hicham’s parents’ home on June 4, 2004.

Not to mention that Guerrouj is a simple man who enjoys his private life.

He enjoys spending time in a one-room apartment despite having a large apartment and a villa.

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Social Media Presence

Hicham is known for his shy personality and private nature.

Nonetheless, he remains active on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

Similarly, his presence on Instagram is noticeable as well.

You can stay updated on his latest life update and follow him under the username @elguerroujhicham.

He has over 23k followers on the respective platform.