Mile and 1500m world record holder — the finest middle-distance runner since Coe and Ovett.
Hicham El Guerrouj was born in Berkane, Morocco in 1974. He holds the world records for the mile (3:43.13) and 1500m (3:26.00) — both set in 1999, both still standing as of 2024. He won double gold at the Athens 2004 Olympics — the 1500m and 5000m — the first man to achieve this since Paavo Nurmi in 1924. He lost the 1996 and 2000 Olympic 1500m finals. His world record mile time is almost three seconds faster than Roger Bannister's four-minute mile — representing a measure of how athletics has progressed.
Middle distance running world records and Olympic double gold
How They Played
Tactical runner with devastating finishing kick
Lasting Impact
Greatest middle distance runner of all time
Olympic Gold 1500m and 5000m (Athens 2004)
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold 1500m and 5000m (Athens 2004)
- World Record Mile (3:43.13)
- World Record 1500m (3:26.00)