The first edition of the Fdala Atlantic Triathlon kicked off early Sunday, bringing together amateur athletes and experienced triathletes to compete in swimming, cycling, and running in the coastal city of Mohammedia.
Organized by Smart Sport Consulting under the auspices of the Royal Moroccan Triathlon Federation, the two-day event, held on October 10 and 11, drew 500 participants from different Moroccan cities and 10 nationalities across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
“Our goal is to promote triathlon in Morocco and showcase the beauty of the country’s race courses,” Othmane Benhlima, the event director, told Hespress English.
Benhlima emphasized that the event also aims to encourage triathlon as a sport for everyone, from professionals to amateurs, while bringing people together from around the world, promoting environmental awareness, and showcasing the beauty of cities.
Athletes with disabilities also participated in the Fdala Atlantic Triathlon, held under the slogan “Sport in the Service of Society and the Environment,” to promote inclusion and environmental awareness.
The first edition featured two formats: a sprint triathlon, which started at 8 a.m. and included 750 meters of swimming, 20 kilometers of cycling, and 5 kilometers of running, followed by an Olympic aquathlon combining 1.5 kilometers of swimming with 10 kilometers of running.
The swimming took place at Miramar Beach, followed by cycling through the city and running along the Mohammedia corniche.
Zakaria Hssiki, 33, of Rabat Ocean Triathlon Club, won the men’s sprint triathlon in 59 minutes and 45 seconds, with barely 30 minutes to change and prepare before heading back to the starting line for the men’s aquathlon, which he also won in 1 hour and 3 minutes.
“The event went well,” Hissik. He finished fourth in swimming in around 12 minutes, moved up to second place in cycling, and ultimately took the lead in the running leg to win the triathlon.
Ali El Beqqali came just three seconds behind Hssiki, finishing second in 59 min 48 secs, while 26-year-old Mohamed Ejjahed took third place in 1 hour.
In the women’s sprint triathlon, 21-year-old Chaimaa Oujaa finished first in 1h 16 min, ahead of Belgium’s Clemence Geurts, who came second in 1h 19 min, while Sofia El Beqqali, 16, took third place in 1h 20 min.
“The race went smoothly,” Oujjaa said, despite facing some difficulties during the cycling leg, which she completed in 36 minutes before finishing the run in 22 minutes.
Mohamed Aidi finished second in the men’s aquathlon in 1h 4 min, while Mohammed Kabrour came third in 1h 5min.
In the women’s race, France’s Laure Bibens crossed the finish line first in 1h 16min, followed by the United Kingdom’s Jane Raif 12 minutes later. Yassmine Gassy took third place in 1h 33min.
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