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El Guerrouj visits UPenn tennis playerPublished by
Olympian’s Impromptu Visit Leaves Lasting Impressions
Hicham Laalej of the men's tennis team was like most students on December 9, trying to navigate through the exams, papers and meetings which are a staple during the last weeks of the semester. The senior, a native of Morocco, was heading to class in the morning, when he received an unexpected phone call from head tennis coach Nik DeVore. "Nik calls me and says that there is a Moroccan celebrity who has asked to see you," said Laalej. "I was like, I'm about to go to class and what would a Moroccan celebrity be doing here? He said Hicham El Guerrouj is here and he would like to meet with you." Guerrouj, a Moroccan, is one of the most famous middle distance runners in the world, and an idol in his native country. The three-time Olympian won two gold medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and became the first man in 80 years to take gold in both the 1,500 and 5,000-meter events at the same Games. He is also the current world record holder in the 1,500, one mile and the 2,000-meter races, though he has been retired for over three years. For Laalej, the notion that one of Moroccan's most renowned and celebrated figures was at Penn seemed beyond comprehension. "At first I could not believe it," he said. "I didn't know what he would be doing here."
Read the full article at: www.pennathletics.com
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El Guerrouj visits UPenn tennis playerPublished by
Olympian’s Impromptu Visit Leaves Lasting Impressions
Hicham Laalej of the men's tennis team was like most students on December 9, trying to navigate through the exams, papers and meetings which are a staple during the last weeks of the semester. The senior, a native of Morocco, was heading to class in the morning, when he received an unexpected phone call from head tennis coach Nik DeVore. "Nik calls me and says that there is a Moroccan celebrity who has asked to see you," said Laalej. "I was like, I'm about to go to class and what would a Moroccan celebrity be doing here? He said Hicham El Guerrouj is here and he would like to meet with you." Guerrouj, a Moroccan, is one of the most famous middle distance runners in the world, and an idol in his native country. The three-time Olympian won two gold medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and became the first man in 80 years to take gold in both the 1,500 and 5,000-meter events at the same Games. He is also the current world record holder in the 1,500, one mile and the 2,000-meter races, though he has been retired for over three years. For Laalej, the notion that one of Moroccan's most renowned and celebrated figures was at Penn seemed beyond comprehension. "At first I could not believe it," he said. "I didn't know what he would be doing here."
Read the full article at: www.pennathletics.com
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