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On October 6, 2024, Madhi Bnamrhar made the Moroccan anthem resonate on English soil. At just eight years old, the young Franco-Moroccan won the Youth Elite Scooter Championships in Corby, becoming the first Moroccan to claim a title in this still little-known discipline. His triumph echoes far beyond his family circle: the entire Moroccan community in France, Morocco, and beyond is celebrating the achievement.
Behind this victory lie years of hard work and countless hours spent on skatepark ramps. «We didn’t expect it—neither did he, nor did we», confides his father, Nordine. «But his run was perfect. In 45 seconds, he executed his best tricks with a fluidity and precision that amazed the judges».
A heartfelt choice: representing Morocco
Born in Reims to a Franco-Moroccan father and a French mother, Madhi had the choice between his two countries for his sporting nationality. When the time came to decide, his answer was immediate: it would be Morocco. «For me, it was natural», Madhi says simply. A choice that, for his father, goes beyond competition: «It’s a choice of the heart for him, and a choice of blood for us».
For Madhi, Morocco is «his country of origin—a place where the weather is always nice, where you can ride well, and where you eat delicious tagines». A response full of childhood innocence, but also deep attachment, nurtured since early on through regular visits. His father, born in France, only discovered Morocco at age 17. To avoid repeating that experience, Nordine insisted on forging a strong bond between his children and their roots.
«Since they were born, we’ve taken them to Morocco every year. It’s not just a vacation—it’s about staying grounded».
A destiny forged on the ramps
Madhi’s journey with the scooter began almost by chance. The little boy from Reims was four years old when he first set foot in a skatepark. Initially just an observer, he quickly became fascinated by the riders and their aerial tricks. He asked his parents for a scooter, and—without imagining what would follow—they said yes. «He became passionate about it. He wanted to go every day, even in the rain», recalls his father.
Very quickly, his natural talent became obvious. Older riders noticed and encouraged him. «He imitated the big kids and learned at an impressive pace», says Nordine. What started as a hobby became a way of life. Madhi dreams about riding at night, perfects his tricks by day, and gets up after every fall. And there have been falls: two collarbone fractures, one broken metacarpal... but fear is not in his vocabulary.
The rise of urban sports in Morocco
Madhi’s victory also shines a light on the efforts of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Urban Sports, which is working to develop and promote these disciplines among young people. In Morocco, freestyle scootering is still in its infancy, but the talent is there. Whenever he visits, Madhi takes time to share his skills with local riders, helping to popularize the sport.
«There’s a real passion, but the infrastructure is still lacking», notes Nordine. «Still, we have incredibly talented kids, and with the right support, they could shine internationally». Madhi’s win may help accelerate this momentum and inspire new riders to follow in his path.
A future yet to be written
This world title is just one step in Madhi’s journey. With his mischievous smile and boundless energy, he remains grounded. «I do this for fun», he says. But behind that carefree attitude is unwavering determination. He’s now training hard for the French championships, where he’ll compete against much older riders in the under-15 category. In October, he will defend his world title against the best freestyle scooter riders on the planet.
In the meantime, a new chapter is about to begin. This coming September, Madhi and his family will move to Rabat—a return to his roots that could mark the beginning of a new adventure, this time on Moroccan ramps.
