Khalid Skah (Arabic: خالد سكاح) (born January 29, 1967) is a Moroccan track and field athlete, winner of the 10,000 metres at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
![]() Skah in London in 2012 | ||
Medal record | ||
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Men’s Athletics | ||
Representing ![]() | ||
Olympic Games | ||
![]() | 1992 Barcelona | 10,000 m |
World Championships | ||
![]() | 1995 Gothenburg | 10,000 m |
![]() | 1991 Tokyo | 10,000 m |
Mediterranean Games | ||
![]() | 1993 Narbonne | 10,000 m |
Born in Midelt, Morocco, Skah established himself first as a good cross country runner by winning the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 1990 and 1991.
His first major tournament on track was 1991 World Championships where he at first won a bronze in 10,000 m and then finished sixth at the 5000 m run. This was a disappointing outcome for Skah as, earlier in the season, he had won the 10000 m race in Oslo against a very strong field and had emerged as one of the favourites for the finals in Tokyo. However, for the 10 000 m final Richard Chelimo and the eventual world champion, Moses Tanui (both of Kenya), employed some very elaborate tactics and worked as a team.[1] By the time of the 5000 m final Skah was probably tired. Yobes Ondieki of Kenya, who won the gold medal in the 5000 m, had expected Skah to be his major rival.[citation needed]
The following year, at the Barcelona Olympics, Skah met Chelimo again. With three laps remaining in the 10,000 m final, the two athletes were clear and battling for the gold medal. At this point the pair came to lap another Moroccan athlete, Hammou Boutayeb, who stayed with the leaders even after being lapped. The rules state that a lapped runner cannot "assist" another runner but, although Boutayeb's actions were interpreted as unsportsmanlike by the crowd, it was certain that there was collusion, Skah gained advantage, Chelimo was disadvantaged. These events incensed the Spanish crowd, and the Swedish track judge Carl-Gustav Tollemar attempted to stop Boutayeb.[1][2]
During the final 150 m Skah sprinted away from Chelimo to win the race and was disqualified, making Chelimo the Olympic champion. However, the Moroccans appealed the disqualification and Skah was reinstated as Olympic champion the next morning, because the rule under which he was disqualified did not define a penalty.
In 1993 Skah won the 5000 m race at Weltklasse Zürich. However, he finished fifth in 5000 m at the 1993 World Championships. He ran his only world record in 2 miles (8:12.17) in the same season. He won the 1994 World Semi-Marathon Championships and finished second in 10,000 m at the 1995 World Championships.
Skah's last major international meet was the 1996 Summer Olympics, where he finished seventh in the 10 000 m. In 1995, Skah was given Norwegian citizenship, where he lived and trained with athletes club B.U.L. After that, the Moroccan Athletics Association banned him from international competitions. Skah was reinstated in 2001, after which he tried a comeback to re-establish himself as one of the world's best long distance runners, finishing tenth in the World Half Marathon Championships that year.
Khalid Skah at World Athletics
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by | Men's 3,000 m Best Year Performance 1990 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by Carl Thackery |
Men's Zevenheuvelenloop Winner (15 km) 1993 |
Succeeded by |
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5 miles |
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10,000 metres |
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Mediterranean Games champions in men's 10,000 metres | |
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IAAF World / Continental Cup Champions in men's 10,000 metres | |
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World Athletics Senior Men's World Cross Country champions | |
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Short course |
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Long course |
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World Athletics Half Marathon Championships champions in men's half marathon | |
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2006 and 2007 were held as the IAAF World Road Running Championships |
African Champions in men's 10,000 metres | |
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