IAAF Honors Morocco's Said Aouita

The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) will honor on June 29 the Moroccan golden boy of the eighties Said Aouita on the occasion of the Rome Golden Gala, first phase of the athletics golden league.

Said Aouita, the athlete who challenged any logic, was the first athlete ever in history to run the 5000 m race in less than 13 mn, when he covered the distance in Rome in July 1987 in a timing of 12:58.39.

Winner of the Jess Owens trophy, the most prestigious world athletics distinction, Aouita is so far the only athlete in the world having won the IAAF Grand Prix three times, in 1986, 1988 and 1989. He is also holder of 44 successive victories in races from 800 m to 5000 in less than 26 months.

He held five world records in 1,500 m, 5,000m, 2,000m, 3000 and 2 miles.