Morocco wins record 44 medals at Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games

With an impressive contingent of 120 athletes competing across 18 disciplines at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto (JM 2026), Morocco wraps up a historic campaign this Thursday. Garnering 44 medals, including 16 golds, the nation finishes seventh in the top 10, with Moroccan athletes shining in sports where they had been less prominent in recent years. This achievement surpasses Morocco’s previous record from the 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran, where they earned 33 medals, and breaks their best gold-medal tally of 10 from Tarragona in 2018.

Since debuting at the Mediterranean Games in 1959, Morocco’s current performance marks a pivotal departure from past disappointments, particularly following recent major events such as the 2024 Olympics. With two years until the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, this newfound potential offers hope for a stronger showing.

Breakthroughs Where Morocco Previously Missed the Podium

During the 2026 Mediterranean Games, standout performances included sprinter Yassine Hssine, who clinched double gold in the 100m and 200m, and Hamza Hossaini in artistic gymnastics. A triumphant return in the 400m was led by Salma Lehlali, who seized gold, alongside Ismail Manyani’s victory in the 400m hurdles, complemented by a silver in the 400m relay.

Fatima Zahra Birdaha, capturing double gold in the 5,000m and the half-marathon, capped the competition with a win on Thursday, mirroring her triumph on the opening Sunday. Salaheddine Ben Yazid bolstered Morocco’s stronghold in the 3,000m steeplechase with gold, outpacing compatriot Mohammed Tindouft, who secured silver. Fouad Messaoudi and Souad El Haddad added bronzes in the 5,000m and 800m respectively, while Kawtar Farkoussi excelled in the 10,000m.

Beyond athletics, a historic achievement in tennis came via Karim Bennani, who seized the title, with Younès El Alami Laroussi and Yassine Dlimi clinching gold in the men’s doubles. Yasmine Kabbaj earned bronze, and the mixed doubles saw Younès Alami Laroussi and Diaa El Jardi taking third place.

Moroccan athletes delivered unprecedented performances in combat sports, with golds claimed by Mehdi Sriti and Chaimae El Hayti in karate, and Ahmed Alaoui Cherifi in judo. Bronze went to karatekas Hamza Sam and Sawsan Benchbab.

A Strong Presence in Boxing

Morocco distinguished itself in boxing with six medals: two golds, one silver, and three bronzes, collected by Saïda Lahmidi and Soulaimane Samghouli, Widad Bertal, Mounia Toutir, Yasmine Mouttaki, and Abdelhak Nadir. Gabriele Martelli, the national technical director (DTN) of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation (FRMB), hailed the national team’s performance, saying they «made history» at the Mediterranean Games.

In football, Morocco claimed bronze in both the women’s and men’s tournaments, represented by the Morocco U17 and U20 teams, respectively. Equestrian success came through El Ghali Boukaa, who shone in the individual show jumping event.

In total, the 120 Moroccan athletes—comprising 72 men and 48 women—amassed 16 gold, 9 silver, and 19 bronze medals, surpassing the milestone of 300 overall medals in the competition.