Saïd Aouita

Said Aouita
سعيد عويطة

Aouita at the 1987 World Championships
Personal information
Nationality	Moroccan
Born	(1959-11-02) 2 November 1959 (age 57) Kenitra, Morocco
Residence	Miami, USA Doha, Qatar
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	65 kg (143 lb)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	1500 meters, 3000 meters, 5000 meters
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	800 meters: 1:43.86 1500 meters: 3:29.46 Mile: 3:46.76 3000 meters: 7:29.45 2-mile: 8:13.45 5000 meters: 12:58.39 10,000 meters: 27:26.11
Medal record Representing  Morocco Men's athletics Olympic Games 1984 Los Angeles 5000 m 1988 Seoul 800 m World Championships 1987 Rome 5000 m 1983 Helsinki 1500 m IAAF World Indoor Championships 1989 Budapest 3000 m Mediterranean Games 1983 Casablanca 800 m 1983 Casablanca 1500 m 1987 Latakia 1500 m 1987 Latakia 5000 m 1987 Latakia 3000 m s'chase

Saïd Aouita (Arabic: سعيد عويطة‎‎; born November 2, 1959) is a former Moroccan track and field athlete. He won the 5000 meters at the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1987 World Championships in Athletics, as well as the 3000 meters at the 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships. He is a former world record holder over 1500 metres (3:29.45 minutes), 2000 m (4:50.80), 3000 m (7:29.46), and twice at 5000 m (13:00.40 and 12:58.39). Aouita was one of the first globally known Arab sportspeople. He lives in Orlando, Florida.

Saïd Aouita was born on November 2, 1959 in Kenitra, a coastal Moroccan city. Nine years later, he moved along with his family to Fes due to the nature of his father's work. As a child he spent most of his time playing football and wanted to be a great footballer; however, his outstanding skills in running made his coaches foresee a great future in track and field.

Aouita had his first start towards stardom at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics held in Helsinki. He contested the 1500 m and finished third in the final, taking the bronze medal, after the pace slowed in the last 1000 meters and then finished with a sprint.

In 1984, Aouita decided to run the 5000 m at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Antonio Leitão from Portugal ran in first for the majority of the race. Aouita stayed behind Leitão and then sprinted past him on the last lap to win.