37-year-old steeplechaser, Fouad Idbafdil, showed the world how a refugee turns hurdles into motivation and displacement into success.

Idbafdil’s Story and Milestones

Fouad Idbafdil is a Moroccan-origin refugee living in France and a proud member of the Athlete Refugee Team (ART). After he became a refugee in France, he trained as a steeplechaser, becoming the world-class athlete he is today.

As a part of the ART, he has participated in multiple global athletic events, bagging wins and reaching personal milestones. These include:
◘ 3000m Steeplechase (2023): Best time of 8:34.72, scoring 1101 at the Stade Raymond Troussier in Decines, France.
◘ 1500m Steeplechase (2023): Best time of 3:52.03, scoring 951 at the Arena Civica Gianni Brera in Milano, Italy.
◘ 3000m Steeplechase (2021): Best time of 8:15.06, scoring 990 at the Stadium Miramas Métropole in Miramas, France.

Along with these, he is also one of the proud recipients of the prestigious International Olympic Committee scholarship.

Fouad Idbafdil’s Struggles and How He Overcame Them

Idbafdil faced the first of his challenges when he left Morocco as a refugee. He was denied asylum in Sweden, owing to which he sought refuge in the neighbouring country of France.

Then, he had faced limited opportunities to better his socioeconomic condition as a refugee. Thus, he leveraged his training and skills from his days in the military to train for the ART.

Later, he has to choose between staying an athlete and a steeplechaser or pursuing an alternate livelihood. He stayed consistent in his training and was granted a scholarship by France (his host nation).

All of this is proof of how Fouad Idbafdil has shown courage, resilience, and fortitude, conquering challenges in his path.

How Idbafdil Leads By Example

Fouad Idbafdil went from a member of the military to a refugee to an athlete in the span of a few years. As a spokesperson for refugee rights, Idbafdil advocates for equal rights at every turn. He also teaches the youth how they need to seize opportunities and make the most of them.