RABAT, Morocco, Feb 7 – Kenya is not about to reclaim its dominance in the men’s 3000m steeplechase so long as Olympic and world champion, Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali is on the scene, former world record holder Brahim Boulami believes.
Speaking exclusively told Capital Sport in Rabat, Morocco, Boulami described his fellow countryman as a determined athletes who is keen to stamp his authority in the water and barrier jump race, hence will not relinquish it anytime soon.
“Kenya don’t have to do something unique to win. They are strong, they should train as they do all the time. Maybe this year or two or three years they can get back and reclaim the world record, the World Championships and Olympic titles, but for now El Bakkali will dominate,” the 51-year-old said.
Kenya has dominated the men’s 3000m steeplechase, maintaining a stranglehold on the race since 1968 until at the Tokyo Olympics when the country was jolted into reality as El Bakkali became the first non-Kenyan to win an Olympic title.
The Moroccan continued to rub in the wounds for the country as he stormed to victory at last year’s World Championship in Oregon, dethroning Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto who had won the title three years ago in Doha.
Friendly rivals
Boulami vividly remembers his heydays, noting that some of his best memories on track were competing against Kenyans, including the likes of the 2008 Olympics 3000m steeplechase champion Brimin Kipruto, former world 3000m steeplechase record holder Bernard Barmasai and three-time world champion Moses Kiptanui, among others.
“It was tough competing against Kenyans those days. They were strong in steeplechase… after retiring, we are still friends and communicate with Kenya’s middle and steeplechase runners who we competed together, the likes of Kiptanui, Barmasai, Kipruto. All were tough; we had nice competitive races,” Boulami discloses.
Boulami set two world records in the 3000m steeplechase: 7:55.28 in 2001 at the Brussels Diamond League before shuttering his own record in 2002 during the Zurich Diamond league (7:53.17).
However, the latter record was overturned after he tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug, EPO.
Nonetheless, his time of 7:55.28 in 2001 is currently the fourth fastest ever.
His older brother, Khalid Boulami, is an Olympic 5000m bronze medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Games and a two-time world silver medalist in 1995 (Gothenburg) and 1997 (Athens).
Boulami now works at the Africa Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) as the General Secretary and says his vision is to make volleyball as marketable as athletics.
“All kind of sport is the same thing, what we are trying to give to volleyball is the same attraction and of high level as athletics for Africa as is in the world.”
-Alex Isaboke is reporting from Rabat, Morocco-
