Kenya’s Amos Serem delivered a stunning performance on Friday night, winning the 3000m steeplechase at the Diamond League Final in Brussels, Belgium, by defeating Olympic and world champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco in a thrilling rematch.
The former World Under-20 champion surged in the final lap, outpacing El Bakkali, whose trademark finishing kick in the homestretch has often been unbeatable. Serem clinched victory in a time of 8 minutes 06.90 seconds, while the Moroccan, undefeated since his 2021 Olympic triumph, finished second in 8:08.60. Tunisia’s Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui completed the podium with a time of 8:09.68.
Serem’s performance marked a significant breakthrough, as he not only claimed his first Diamond League title but also ended El Bakkali’s three-year unbeaten streak. The victory was especially sweet for the 22-year-old Kenyan, who had finished a distant 14th at the Paris Olympics but now turned the tables on the reigning Olympic champion.
El Bakkali had dominated the event since his Tokyo Olympics win, holding a firm grip on the steeplechase with victories at the World Championships and other major competitions. However, Serem’s aggressive race strategy—leading from start to finish—proved too much for the Moroccan star.
Olympic bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwot, another Kenyan contender, finished fourth, missing out on the podium.
Serem’s triumph not only underscores his rising status in the sport but also serves as a reminder of Kenya’s rich steeplechase tradition, which El Bakkali disrupted at the Tokyo Olympics.
