Morocco's Remarkable Achievement at the 2026 Mediterranean Games
The 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto have marked a historic milestone for Morocco, with a record-breaking participation of 120 athletes competing across 18 different sports. This impressive delegation has culminated in an extraordinary haul of 44 medals, including 16 golds, positioning Morocco seventh in the overall medal standings. This performance not only surpasses the nation’s previous record of 33 medals from the 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran but also eclipses its best showing in precious metals, which had been capped at 10 since the 2018 Tarragona Games. Morocco's journey in the Mediterranean Games, which began in 1959, has seen the country break free from past disappointments, particularly in recent major competitions such as the upcoming 2024 Olympics.
With just two years remaining until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Morocco's newfound potential offers hope for an even brighter future in international athletics.
Historic Wins and Standout Performers
At the 2026 Mediterranean Games, Morocco's athletes delivered unprecedented performances, particularly shining in track and field events. Notable among them was sprinter Yassine Hssine, who clinched gold medals in both the 100m and 200m sprints. Gymnast Hamza Hossaini also showcased his skills, contributing to the country's impressive medal tally. The Moroccan team made a notable comeback in the 400m events with Salma Lehlali taking gold, while Ismail Manyani triumphed in the 400m hurdles, alongside a silver medal in the 400m relay.
Fatima Zahra Birdaha capped her competition with a stunning victory, securing gold medals in both the 5,000m and the half marathon. Salaheddine Ben Yazid further solidified Morocco's dominance in the 3,000m steeplechase by clinching gold, followed closely by compatriot Mohammed Tindouft, who earned silver. Other noteworthy performances included bronze medals achieved by Fouad Messaoudi in the 5,000m, Souad El Haddad in the 800m, and Kawtar Farkoussi in the 10,000m.
In addition to these successes, tennis player Karim Bennani made history by winning the singles title. The men's doubles team of Younès El Alami Laroussi and Yassine Dlimi also contributed to the medal count, earning gold, while Yasmine Kabbaj secured a bronze medal in women's doubles. Moreover, the duo of Younès Alami Laroussi and Diaa El Jardi finished third in the mixed doubles event.
Morocco's groundbreaking achievements extended to combat sports as well, with Mehdi Sriti and Chaimae El Hayti securing gold in karate, and Ahmed Alaoui Cherifi winning gold in judo. Additional bronze medals were claimed by karate competitors Hamza Sam and Sawsan Benchbab.
In boxing, Morocco excelled with six medals—two gold, one silver, and three bronze—thanks to outstanding performances from athletes like Saïda Lahmidi and Soulaimane Samghouli, among others. Gabriele Martelli, the national technical director of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation (FRMB), expressed pride in the team's historic accomplishments at the Mediterranean Games.
Beyond individual sports, Morocco's national football teams also secured third place finishes in both men's and women's categories, represented by the U17 and U20 teams, respectively. Additionally, equestrian athlete El Ghali Boukaa made his mark by winning bronze in the individual show jumping event.
In total, Morocco's contingent of 120 athletes, comprising 72 men and 48 women, achieved a remarkable tally of 16 gold, 9 silver, and 19 bronze medals, surpassing the milestone of 300 cumulative medals in the history of the Mediterranean Games.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
