Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi achieved a remarkable feat at the Paris 2024 Paralympics by shattering the T12 marathon world record. On the final day of the Games, the 29-year-old Moroccan crossed the finish line at the Esplanade des Invalides with an astonishing time of 2:48:36, breaking the previous record by nearly six minutes.
El Idrissi’s historic run saw her fall to her knees in tears of joy as she completed the challenging 42-kilometre course. “I wasn’t running for a time, only for a medal,” she reflected. “I wasn’t aiming for the world record, just the gold, and now I have both.”
Her victory was a great example of marathon running, showing her amazing skill in managing the tough course. Despite the challenging conditions with many twists and turns, El Idrissi adjusted well and finished far ahead of her competitors.
Her nearest rival, Moroccan Meryem En-Nourhi, finished over nine minutes behind, while Tokyo 2020 champion Misato Michishita from Japan trailed nearly fifteen minutes behind El Idrissi. The race highlighted a stark contrast between the veteran and the rising star, with El Idrissi firmly in the spotlight.
This marathon triumph adds to an already illustrious career for El Idrissi, who is also a two-time world champion in the 1500m and a recent Paralympic silver medalist in the same event. Her versatility across distances, including both silver in the T13 1500m and gold in the T12 marathon, underscores her exceptional talent and adaptability in athletics.
