UEMF welcomes the Olympic Games world legend and four-time world champion Hicham El Guerrouj

Mr. Hicham EL GUERROUJ, the world's fastest man over 1500m, the greatest Moroccan athlete of all time, holder of several world records including 3 that remain unbeaten, a four-time world champion and double Olympic champion at the 2004 Athens Games, was welcomed today by the Université Euromed de Fès (UEMF). He was accompanied by athlete Brahim Lahlafi, a native of Fes, a long-distance running specialist and a close friend of Hicham El Guerrouj.

The special guest of UEMF, Mr. Hicham El Guerrouj, gave a lecture about his highly inspiring journey for young people—a path strewn with obstacles, uncertainties, and challenges, and an example of endurance, self-sacrifice, and extraordinary willpower. In a packed auditorium and in the presence of numerous students, professors, and officials, the Olympic champion expressed his joy and pride in sharing his experience with the students of the Université Euromed de Fès.

This conference featured highly emotional moments following the screening of a report summarizing the athlete's legendary career. These very moving images allowed the audience to relive the highlights of an exceptional career filled with difficulties, but also with multiple successes, joy, and attachment to the homeland.

During this conference, the middle-distance legend spoke openly about his source of inspiration and his great motivation, which enabled him to overcome all difficulties and transform obstacles into a springboard and a bridge to success. "Everything is possible when you believe in it and work ardently to achieve your goal. Love for the country and for our Great King, willpower, and faith gave me the strength of titans to face challenges and give my best…" stated Mr. Hicham EL GUERROUJ in response to one of the many questions asked by the students.

Mr. EL GUERROUJ subsequently had a memorable exchange with the audience, who seized this opportunity to eagerly question him about the highlights and events that most marked the champion's career. During this Q&A session, the audience expressed its appreciation and admiration for the legendary journey of the great athlete who left a mark on the spirit of all Moroccans as well as on the history of world athletics.

Mr. Hicham EL GUERROUJ expressed his delight at this visit and stated that he was impressed by the University's infrastructure, its values, and the quality of the exchanges with the students and professors.