Over 10,000 runners took to the Catalan streets on new year’s eve for the 10km Nassos Race. For Abdelaziz Merzougui competing in a place, he now fondly calls home was special. The 3,000m steeplechaser however owes his entry into the sport to his country of birth, Morocco.
“I started out as an athlete in Morocco, like all kids when they start running they have a goal – my goal was to be like Olympic champions Said Aouita and Hisham El Guerouj”Abdelaziz Merzougui, Spanish athlete
The 25 year old moved to Spain at a young age and in 2012 made his Olympics debut finishing 12th in the heats. While Merzougui appreciates what his adoptive nation has done for his career but he still dreams of representing Morocco one day.
“Any athlete has the dream to represent his country because wherever you go the love of the country is in your heart. You are always thinking about your country when you carry the flag of another country, you say to yourself ‘why don’t I carry my country’s flag?’ But I thank God for everything.”Abdelaziz Merzougui, Spanish athlete
That is however for the future, for now Merzougui who finished third in the new year’s eve race begins his preparations for this year’s Olympics as a Spanish athlete
