Morocco's El Bakkali Joins Swiss Brand After Olympic Glory
Two-time Olympic steeplechase champion Soufiane El Bakkali has signed with Swiss sportswear brand On, joining his recent rival on the same team. The move reunites the Moroccan legend with the athlete who beat him by just 0.07 seconds at the 2025 World Championships.
The world's most dominant steeplechase runner just joined forces with the man who recently beat him.
Moroccan running icon Soufiane El Bakkali has signed with Swiss sportswear brand On, adding another Olympic champion to their growing roster of track stars. El Bakkali made history at the Paris 2024 Games by becoming only the second athlete ever to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
The last person to achieve that feat? Finland's Iso Hollo in 1932.
El Bakkali's journey to the top wasn't instant. After finishing fourth twice early in his career, he broke through at the Tokyo 2020 Games in spectacular fashion. His gold medal ended a stunning 40-year streak of Kenyan dominance in the Olympic steeplechase, making him the first non-Kenyan winner since 1980.
He backed up that performance with World Championship golds in 2022 and 2023, proving his Tokyo win was no fluke. His consistency in one of track and field's most grueling events has established him as a generational talent.
The timing of his signing makes it even more compelling. At the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, El Bakkali finished second to On athlete Geordie Beamish in a thriller that came down to the final ten meters. The margin? Just seven hundredths of a second.
Now they're teammates.
Why This Inspires
El Bakkali's choice to join On speaks volumes about turning competition into collaboration. Rather than viewing Beamish as just a rival, he saw an opportunity to be part of something bigger.
"I chose On because I see a bright future with them," El Bakkali said. "I hope to shine alongside them because I aspire to achieve even more in the future."
On now boasts an impressive collection of steeplechase talent, including Beamish, Ryuji Miura, Getnet Wale, Doris Lemngole, and Gesa Krause. The brand's commitment to the event shows how specialized excellence can create a community of champions pushing each other to new heights.
At 29, El Bakkali isn't finished rewriting the record books. With the support of a brand investing heavily in steeplechase innovation, his best performances may still be ahead of him.
Based on reporting by Myjoyonline Ghana
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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