Morocco competed at the

2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's eleventh appearance at the Olympics, except the

1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad (russian: Игры XXII Олимпиады, Igry XXII Olimpiady) and commo ...

in Moscow, because of its partial support to the United States boycott. Comité Olympique Marocain sent a total of 55 athletes, 47 men and 8 women, to compete in 9 sports.

Men's football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is t ...

was the only team-based sport in which Morocco had its representation at these Olympic Games. There was only a single competitor in fencing, swimming, and weightlifting. The Moroccan team featured four Olympic medalists from Sydney: boxer

Tahar Tamsamani Tahar Tamsamani (born 10 September 1980) is a retired Moroccan boxer. He competed at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics and won a bronze medal in 2000. In 2000 he won a bronze medal in the featherweight (57 kg) division, after falling in the ...

, steeplechaser

Ali Ezzine Ali Ezzine (Arabic: علي الزين ; born September 3, 1978, in Ain Taoujdate, Morocco) is a Moroccan athlete who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He won the bronze medal in this event at the 2000 Summer Olympics hel ...

, middle-distance runner and top favorite Hicham El Guerrouj, and hurdler and former world champion

Nezha Bidouane Nezha Bidouane ( ar, نزهة بدوان; born on 18 September 1969 in Rabat) is a retired Moroccan track and field hurdler Hurdling is the act of jumping over an obstacle at a high speed or in a sprint. In the early 19th century, hurdlers r ...

, who later became the nation's first ever female flag bearer in the opening ceremony. Morocco left Athens with a total of three Olympic medals (two gold and one silver), being considered the most successful Olympics based on the gold medal count. As one of the major highlights of these Games, Hicham El Guerrouj set an Olympic historical milestone as the first ever Moroccan athlete to strike a distance double (1500–5000) since Paavo Nurmi did so in 1924, and the first to claim a gold since the

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...

in Barcelona, where

Khalid Skah Khalid Skah ( ar, خالد سكاح) (born 29 January 1967) is a Moroccan track and field athlete, winner of the 10,000 metres at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Born in Midelt, Morocco, Skah established himself first as a good cross country runner ...

won the men's 10,000 metres title. On August 29, 2004, at the time of the closing ceremony, El Guerrouj was elected to the

IOC Athletes' Commission International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission (IOC AC) is a majority elected body that serves as a link between athletes and the IOC. The mission of the IOC AC is to ensure that athletes' viewpoint remains at the heart of the Olympic Movemen ...

, along with three other athletes. Meanwhile, the silver medal was awarded to fellow middle-distance runner

Hasna Benhassi Hasna Benhassi ( ar, حسنة بنحسي; born 1 June 1978) is a retired Moroccan middle-distance runner Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres ...

in the women's 800 metres.

Medalists

Athletics

Moroccan athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard). ;Men ;Track & road events ;Field events ;Women ;Track & road events

Boxing

Morocco sent seven boxers to Athens. Only two of them won their first bouts, including Sydney bronze medalist

, and both were defeated in the second round to give the team a combined record of 2–7.

Fencing

One Moroccan fencer qualified for the following events: ;Men

Football

The

Morocco national football team The Morocco national football team,french: Équipe du Maroc de football nicknamed "the Barbary lion, Atlas Lions", represents Morocco in men's international Association football, football competitions. It is controlled by the Royal Moroccan Foo ...

qualified for the Olympics after getting a go-ahead penalty goal in their final qualifying match against Angola.

Men's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ---- ----

Judo

Two Moroccan judoka qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Swimming

;Men

Taekwondo

Three Moroccan taekwondo jin qualified for the following events.

Tennis

Morocco nominated two male tennis players to compete in the tournament.

Weightlifting

One Moroccan weightlifter qualified for the following events:

References

External links

Official Report of the XXVIII OlympiadMoroccan Olympic Committee
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morocco At The 2004 Summer Olympics Nations at the 2004 Summer Olympics

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...