Video: Fatima Zahraa Al-Kardari’s joy at the finish line

Athlete Fatima Zahraa Qirdadi wrote history Saturday morning in Budapest, as she awarded Morocco its first medal in the women’s marathon at the World Championships in Athletics.

Qirdadi signed an exceptional performance to register his name in the list of winners of the 19th World Championships in Athletics, preventing Ethiopia at the same time 100% of the podium that it seemed to have gained.

Determined to shine through this very tough event, which was contested over a distance of 42.195 km, the Moroccan champion outdid herself to take third place in the women’s marathon, with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes and 17 seconds.

Gardadi beat Ethiopian Amani Berisu Shankuli, the world champion, in two hours, 24 minutes and 23 seconds, and her compatriot, Gutitum Gibrislas, the second, with a time of two hours, 24 minutes and 34 seconds.

The Moroccan champion continued her belief in her chances of ascending to the podium in the women’s marathon, despite the intense competition, and during the last kilometers she was able to rise in the race classification, to finally outperform the Israeli Lunai Shamtay Salpeter and the Ethiopian. Ya Almzrif Yehualaf (fourth and fifth).

At the age of 31, Qirdadi proved particularly resilient and stamina to finish among the top three and give Morocco its second medal at the 19th World Championships in Athletics, after Soufiane El Bakkali’s gold in the 3000m steeplechase.

With this new medal, Morocco’s tally in the World Athletics Championships rises to 33 medals in 19 participations, including 12 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze.

This is Morocco’s third medal in the marathon event at the World Athletics Championships, after the two gold medals won by Moroccan champion Jawad Gharib in the Paris 2003 and Helsinki 2005 worlds.

Thanks to the medals won by Sofiane El Bakkali and Fatima Zahraa Qirdadi, Morocco, represented in the World Championships (Budapest-2023) by 17 athletes (12 men and 5 women), ranks 13th in the previous medal table, jointly with Japan. and Greece.