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At the finish line of the Golden Trail World Series on Sunday, October 12, in Italy, Moroccan runner Elhousine Elazzaoui was visibly moved. «It was a mix of emotions. All my childhood memories came flooding back, the long walks to school and everything I’ve lived through. I felt deeply grateful, remembering where I came from and how far I’ve come», recalled the native of Tamegroute, a town located 18 kilometers south of Zagora.
The champion completed the 21-kilometer race with over 1,600 meters of elevation gain, claiming the world title for the second consecutive season.
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A Season of Triumphs Across Continents
This victory marked the culmination of a long and demanding season. The race in Italy concluded a global series that began on April 19, during which Elazzaoui achieved four consecutive wins, in Spain (Zegama-Aizkorri), the United States (Broken Arrow Skyrace), Mexico (Tepec Trail), and Italy (Ledro Sky Trentino), outperforming Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno and Philemon Kiriago.
«This season was very challenging, especially with the pressure from the Kenyan runners, there were about 20 of them. Last year, I became the first African and Arab to win this race, so they came in full force to take the title», he told Yabiladi.
The championship unfolded over seven months, across eight international stages in Italy, Spain, China, Japan, the United States, Mexico, Switzerland, and back to Italy for the final.
Elazzaoui participated in five of these stages, after having secured enough points to qualify for the finale. «But throughout the season, I was worried one of my competitors might surpass my points total», he admitted.
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Pressure, Pain, and Perseverance
The Moroccan athlete faced constant pressure throughout the championship, competing against the world’s best trail runners. «I was determined to defend my title. Many people were counting on me to win. The Kenyan runners had learned my race strategy, so I had to adapt», he explained.
«The toughest stage was in California, where the Kenyans nearly overtook me. Thankfully, I managed to edge them out. There was barely a week between each race, and traveling from country to country was exhausting, especially since we were already competing at high altitude».
Elazzaoui said his success was built on months of preparation. «I started training six months before the season, in remote areas of Morocco», he shared.
After pausing for a moment, he added proudly: «The hardships I faced as a child and teenager, the lack of resources, walking barefoot, and living in tough conditions, all taught me to rely on myself. From a young age, I learned to fight for my goals. Those experiences helped me overcome every obstacle, both in racing and in life».
He also revealed that during the final stage in Italy, he suffered a leg injury, but refused to give up and pushed through to the finish line.
«No Official Support»
While savoring this moment of glory, Elazzaoui expressed regret over the lack of recognition at home. «International media have covered my achievements, but Moroccan state media have been silent. The federation has also shown little support, despite everything I’ve accomplished. I reached out about the World Championship but received no response», he told Yabiladi with disappointment.
«It hurts to see other countries supporting their champions while I receive none. Only the Moroccan community in the countries where I compete shows me real encouragement. Even my sponsors are foreign, not Moroccan».
Despite the lack of institutional support, Elhousine Elazzaoui remains hopeful. Having made history by winning the Golden Trail World Series for the second time, he now dreams of seeing mountain running included in the Olympic Games. «I hope to help bring this sport to the Olympics. After this success, my dream is to compete at the 2028 Games and raise the Moroccan flag high», he said.
In the meantime, the Moroccan champion will appear on several French TV channels this week, sharing his inspiring journey, from Tamegroute to the world’s mountain trails, carrying the colors of Morocco to global glory.
