PARIS, Aug 3, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Soufiane El Bakkali will bid to defend his 3000m steeplechase at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday and become just the third Arab to win double gold.

Only his Moroccan compatriot Hicham El Guerrouj, who won 1500m and 5,000m gold in Athens 2004, and Tunisian swimmer Oussama Mellouli (1500m freestyle in Beijing 2008 and 10km marathon in London 2012) have achieved the feat.

While El Guerrouj headlined a strong Moroccan athletics team, which consistently won medals at world championships as well as Olympics, there has been a marked decline in recent years.

It falls on the Fes-born El Bakkali to shoulder the burden of bagging more gold for the north African country.

The 28-year-old certainly arrives in Paris with a target on his back, having won the last three global championships.

After first triumphing at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when he became the first non-Kenyan runner to win the Olympic steeplechase title since 1980, he confirmed his status with back-to-back victories in world championships in Eugene and Budapest.

"Covid-19 was beneficial to me," the Moroccan said. "Instead of waiting every two years to take part in a global championships, I participated in one a year and claimed three gold medals.

"I hope to achieve five golds, what with the Paris Olympics and next year's world championships in Tokyo."

- Hampered by injury -

El Bakkali, who boasts a finishing speed that oftens undoes his rivals' efforts in the closing stages of races, has not been a regular on the track circuit this season.

He ran, and won in 8:09.40, at his home Diamond League meet in Marrakesh, but that was back in May.

"I suffered from an injury which stopped me from participating in many events," he said after that race.

"This year is very important for me but the injury came at a very bad time.

"I will start my preparation for the Olympic Games where my goal is to keep my title."

The leading time of the year, 8:01.63, is owned by Ethiopian rival Lamecha Girma, who avoided a showdown in Marrakesh but did compete at the Stockholm Diamond League.

El Bakkali said the pressure he felt was "very great, to the point that I lose focus before the finals, realising the weight of expectations and hopes pinned on me".

"However, I quickly gather my strength and focus on being the first to cross the finish line.

"Thanks to all the experience I have, I know how to manage pressure."

El Bakkali, who has been with coach Karim Tlemsani since he was 14, added: "I know that what is coming is more difficult and that staying at the top and achieving glory requires more work.

"I will carry on and persevere in order to continue winning titles and medals and raising the Moroccan flag high on the global and Olympic stage."

Turning to the world record of 7:52.11, set by Girma at last year's Diamond League meet in Paris, El Bakkali was confident he could have a crack at it, though he warned it was unlikely to be during the Olympics.

"I wouldn't risk going for it at an Olympics or world championships because my focus is on the gold," he said.

"The record is only a matter of time and I am certain that I will break it one day."