Khalid Skah
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
 Khalid Skah |
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| Men’s Athletics | ||
Competitor for  Morocco |
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| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 1992 Barcelona | 10,000 m |
| World Championships | ||
| Silver | 1995 Gothenburg | 10,000 m |
| Bronze | 1991 Tokyo | 10,000 m |
| Mediterranean Games | ||
| Gold | 1993 Narbonne | 10,000 m |
Khalid Skah (Arabic: خالد سكاه) (born January 29, 1967) is a Moroccan athlete, winner of 10 000 m at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Born in Midelt, Morocco, Khalid 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. By the time of the 5000 m final Skah was probably tired. Yobes Ondieki (Kenya) who won the gold medal over 5000 m had expected Skah to be his major rival.
At the Barcelona Olympics, Khalid Skah had a long duel with Richard Chelimo from Kenya in the 10 000 m. When they were lapping another Moroccan Hammou Boutayeb, the latter interfered with Chelimo and Skah went on to win a second ahead of the Kenyan. After the race Skah was accused of receiving undue assistance from Boutayeb and was disqualified, but was later reinstated on a technicality. During the presentation ceremony, held the next day, Skah was loudly booed by the crowd as he received his medal; Chelimo received a standing ovation.
In 1993 Skah won the 5000 m race at the prestigious meeting in Zurich. However, he finished fifth in 5000 m at the 1993 World Championships. He ran his only world record in 2 miles (8:12.17) on 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 tournament was 1996 Summer Olympics, where he finished seventh in 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 come-back to re-establish himself as one of the world's best long distance runners, finishing tenth in the World Half Marathon Championships that year.
[edit] Personal life
Khalid Skah married Norwegian solicitor Anne Cecilie Hopstock after his Barcelona triumph, and they have two children. The marriage ended in divorce after the family relocated to Morocco in 2006. Skah lost a custody battle with his former wife in Norwegian courts two years later, yet failed to return the children from Morocco. As of August 2009, he has not been formally served with the court decision. Skah is indicted on kidnapping, threats and domestic disturbance charges in Norway[1]
The children escaped Morocco in July 2009. The Norwegian embassys alleged improper sheltering of the children during their escape, has lead to a minor diplomatic dispute between the two countries.[2] Skah has filed for custody in Morocco. He maintains his innocence and claims the children have been abducted.
Skah's sister is married to the Finnish runner Janne Holmén and lives in Uppsala, Sweden.
[edit] References
IAAF profile for Khalid Skah
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Saïd Aouita |
Men's 3,000 m Best Year Performance 1990 |
Succeeded by Dieter Baumann |
Preceded by Carl Thackery |
Men's Zevenheuvelenloop Winner (15 km) 1993 |
Succeeded by Haile Gebrselassie |
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