Mehdi Baala
| Mehdi Baala medal table |
||
|---|---|---|
| France | ||
| Olympic games | ||
| bronze | 2008 Beijing | 3: 34.21 min |
| World championships | ||
| silver | 2003 Paris | 3: 32.31 min |
| European championships | ||
| gold | 2002 Munich | 3: 45.25 min |
| gold | 2006 Gothenburg | 3: 39.02 min |
Mehdi Baala (born August 17, 1978 in Strasbourg ) is a French middle-distance runner .
Life
He made his first major international appearance as a 22-year-old at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney when he finished fourth on his favorite 1,500 meter course . After disappointing World Championships in Edmonton (only twelfth over 1500 meters), he won the European Championships in Munich in 2002 . He was one of the favorites in his own country at the World Championships in Paris in 2003 and only had to admit defeat to Hicham El Guerrouj , who won his fourth world title in a row.
The 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki turned out to be a big disappointment for Mehdi Baali without great placements. In Helsinki he started after losing in the semifinals over 1500 meters and still over the 800 meters and was at least sixth there. In 2006 Baala defended his title at the European Championships in Gothenburg . At the 2007 World Championships in Osaka , he was subsequently disqualified in the semifinals after he had extended his elbow on the home straight and caused two opponents to fall.
At the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 , Mehdi Baala initially only finished fourth. However, since the alleged Olympic champion Rashid Ramzi tested positive for the EPO derivative Mircera afterwards , he moved up to the bronze rank.
Mehdi Baala is 1.80 m tall and has a competition weight of 65 kg.
Ban after a fist fight
At the Diamond League meeting in Monaco in 2011, Baala fought with his teammate Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad . Thereupon he and Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad were banned for ten months (five of them on probation), had to pay a fine of 1,500 euros and did 50 hours of social work.
Personal best
- 800 m : 1: 43.15 min, September 8, 2002 in Rieti
- 1000 m : 2: 13.96 min, June 26, 2003 in Strasbourg
- 1500 m : 3: 28.91 min, September 5, 2003 in Brussels
- 2000 m: 4: 53.12 min, June 23, 2005 in Strasbourg
Performance development
| year | 800 meters (in min) |
1000 meters (in min) |
1500 meters (in min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | - | - | 4: 08.1 |
| 1995 | - | - | 3: 48.74 |
| 1996 | 1: 49.62 | - | 3: 43.50 |
| 1997 | - | 2: 21.28 | 3: 45.34 |
| 1998 | 1: 49.57 | 2: 21.21 | 3: 41.86 |
| 1999 | 1: 46.41 | 2: 17.5 | 3: 34.83 |
| 2000 | 1: 46.24 | 2: 15.45 | 3: 32.05 |
| 2001 | 1: 46.94 | 2: 17.80 | 3: 31.97 |
| 2002 | 1: 43.15 | 2: 15.17 | 3: 32.03 |
| 2003 | 1: 44.17 | 2: 13.96 | 3: 28.98 |
| 2004 | 1: 45.52 | - | 3: 31.25 |
| 2005 | 1: 44.74 | 2: 19.11 | 3: 30.80 |
| 2006 | 1: 44.04 | 2: 14.99 | 3: 30.01 |
| 2007 | - | 2: 17.73 | 3: 31.01 |
| 2008 | - | 2: 16.30 | 3: 32.00 |
| 2009 | - | - | 3: 30.96 |
Web links
- Mehdi Baala in the database of World Athletics (English)
- Mehdi Baala in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
Footnotes
- ↑ Leichtathletik.de: IOC recognizes Rashid Ramzi Olympic gold . November 18, 2009
- ↑ Alex Dutler: mascot attacked and compatriot beaten up - the disqualified European champion is a repeat offender In: watson.ch from August 15, 2014
- ↑ Pia Wertheimer: The fists of the Leibchen-Loser were already flying. In: Tages-Anzeiger .ch / Newsnet from August 15, 2014
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Baala, Mehdi |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French middle distance runner |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 17th August 1978 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Strasbourg |