HIcham El Guerrouj receives his award from King Mohammed VI (© Benchrif)
Double Athens Olympic gold medallist Hicham El Guerrouj and women's 800m silver medallist Hasna Benhassi were honoured in Morocco by King Mohammed VI on Tuesday.
Guerrouj received the "cordon de commandeur", which is one of the highest possible national honours, and on leaving the royal palace, described it as his third gold medal to go with the 1500m and 5000m titles which he claimed in Athens.
Benhassi who finished second behind Britain's Kelly Holmes in Athens in a national 800m record of 1:56.43, was awarded the National Order of Merit.
“This recognition is a real motivator which will inspire me and make me train twice as harder to achieve even greater success in sport,” said Hicham El Guerrouj following the ceremony.
“It is so important that to me, this award represents like the third medal after the two gold medals I won on the track in Athens. My double victory in 1500m and 5000m is the best achievement of my whole career.”
Agencies