Mediterranean Games: Morocco, a History of Achievements and Champions

Since making its Mediterranean Games debut in 1959, Morocco has built a rich history in the competition, defined by landmark performances, national records and some of the country’s most celebrated sporting figures. With Taranto 2026approaching, we look back at the editions that have shaped Morocco’s Mediterranean Games journey.

1959: The journey begins in Beirut

Morocco’s Mediterranean Games story began in Beirut in 1959, with the Kingdom making its first appearance at the competition.

The Moroccan delegation made an immediate impact, winning seven medals: two gold, three silver and two bronze. It was the first chapter of what would become a long-standing presence at the Games.

Casablanca 1983: A landmark Games on home soil

Twenty-four years later, the Mediterranean Games took on a special significance for Moroccan sport when Casablanca hosted the competition from 3 to 17 September 1983, the first time the Games were held in the Kingdom.

Competing on home soil, Morocco claimed eight gold medals. Athletics provided some of the standout performances, with Saïd AOUITA completing a remarkable 800m and 1,500m double, while Nawal EL MOUTAWAKEL won gold in the 400m hurdles. Morocco also reached the top step of the podium in football.

Latakia 1987: Morocco’s best-ever overall ranking

Four years after Casablanca, Morocco carried that momentum into Latakia 1987 in Syria, where the delegation achieved its best overall ranking in Mediterranean Games history, finishing fifth.

Athletics was at the heart of the performance, delivering six gold medals. Saïd AOUITA completed another double, this time over 1,500m and 5,000m, while Fatima AOUAM won both the 1,500m and 3,000m. Nawal EL MOUTAWAKELtook gold in the 400m hurdles, with Faouzi LAHBI winning the 800m.

Morocco’s success extended beyond the track. Abdelhak ACHIK and Redouane HANDASSI claimed boxing golds, while Arafat CHEKROUNI won the men’s singles tennis title.

Nearly four decades later, Morocco’s fifth-place finish in Latakia remains its highest overall ranking at the Mediterranean Games.

From Languedoc-Roussillon to Mersin: Raising the medal benchmark

Following the successes of the 1980s, Morocco continued to raise its medal tally at subsequent editions.

At Languedoc-Roussillon 1993, the Moroccan delegation collected 27 medals: seven gold, seven silver and 13 bronze, finishing seventh overall. At the time, it stood as one of Morocco’s strongest medal hauls in the history of the Games.

Twenty years later, Mersin 2013 brought another milestone. Morocco won 28 medals: seven gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze, setting what was then a national record for the most medals won at a single Mediterranean Games. That benchmark would stand until Oran 2022.

Tarragona 2018: A record ten gold medals

At Tarragona 2018, Morocco set another national benchmark. The delegation returned home with 24 medals: 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze, finishing eighth among 25 nations.

The 10 gold medals remain Morocco’s highest number of titles won at a single edition of the Mediterranean Games.

Athletics accounted for a significant share of that success, producing 13 medals, including eight golds. Rababe ARAFIcompleted the 800m and 1,500m double, while Soufiane EL BAKKALI claimed the 3,000m steeplechase title.

The success extended across several other sports. Karate, tennis, boxing, taekwondo, fencing, football, judo and boules also contributed to the medal tally, with Moroccan athletes reaching the podium across nine sports.

Oran 2022: Breaking the 30-medal barrier

Four years later, Oran 2022 saw Morocco break the 30-medal barrier for the first time in its Mediterranean Games history.

With 33 medals (three gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze) , the Moroccan delegation established a new national record for the most medals won at a single edition. Morocco was represented by 130 athletes competing across 15 sports.

The three gold medals came through Mohamed HAMOUT in the -60kg boxing event, Mohcin OUTALHA in the half marathon and Soufiane BOUQANTAR in the 5,000m.

Three editions therefore stand out as Morocco’s key statistical benchmarks at the Games: Latakia 1987 for the country’s best overall ranking (fifth), Tarragona 2018 for the most gold medals (10) and Oran 2022 for the largest overall medal haul (33).

From the Mediterranean Games to the Olympic stage

From Beirut 1959 to Oran 2022, Morocco has won a total of 278 Mediterranean Games medals: 72 gold, 90 silver and 116 bronze.

Beyond the numbers, the Games have featured several generations of athletes who went on to become leading figures in Moroccan sport. Mediterranean Games gold medallists Saïd AOUITA and Nawal EL MOUTAWAKEL went on to become Olympic champions at Los Angeles 1984, winning the 5,000m and 400m hurdles respectively.

More than three decades later, Soufiane EL BAKKALI continued that tradition. After winning Mediterranean gold in the 3,000m steeplechase, he went on to claim the Olympic title in the same event at Tokyo 2020, before successfully defending his crown at Paris 2024.

The Mediterranean Games have thus formed part of the journey of several champions who went on to take Moroccan sport to the highest level of the Olympic stage.

Taranto 2026: A new chapter

From 21 August to 3 September 2026, the Mediterranean Games will return to Italy for a new edition in Taranto.

For Morocco, the event will continue a journey that began in 1959. A new generation of Moroccan athletes is now preparing to take up the mantle and write the next chapter in the Kingdom’s Mediterranean Games history.