Moroccan-Italian runner Iliass Aouani has made history by putting Italy back on the world marathon podium. An engineer by training and of Moroccan origin, he claimed a remarkable bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The last Italian marathoner to win a world medal was Stefano Baldini, who took bronze in Paris in 2001 and again in 2003. In Italy, the sports press has been full of praise. «Iliass Aouani has taken up the mantle and etched his name in history by winning a magnificent bronze medal behind Alphonce Simbu and Amanal Petros», wrote Eurosport on Monday, calling him a «unique Italian star with Moroccan roots». After his race, Aouani shared his pride: «I ran an extremely relaxed race; I was confident. I didn't let the circumstances affect my emotions. I am happy to have made those who love me happy». Born in Fkih Ben Salah, Morocco, in 1995, Aouani moved to Milan at the age of two to join his father. He discovered running in 2011, at 16. «Under the guidance of Claudio Valisa, former coach of Italian champion Gennaro Di Napoli, Iliass won the Italian junior title in the 5,000 meters in 2014», Eurosport recalls. After high school, he pursued his studies in the United States. «He spent a year in Beaumont, Texas, at Lamar University with coach Tony Houchin, then moved to Syracuse, New York, where he earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's in structural engineering», the outlet reports. During his first two seasons in the U.S., Aouani was coached by Chris Fox, followed by Brien Bell. He reached the NCAA finals in the 10,000 meters in 2019 before returning to Italy in 2021. Back home, «he chose Ferrara as his base with coach Massimo Magnani», and became «the first athlete to win Italian titles in cross-country, the 10,000 meters on track, the 10 km road race, and the half marathon all in the same season, while steadily improving his times across distances». Always ready for new challenges, Aouani made the leap to the marathon in 2022. Since 2023, he has trained under Giuseppe Giambrone with the support of Tuscany Camp in San Rocco a Pilli (Siena). In September 2024, he ran 2:06:06 in Valencia, becoming the second-fastest Italian in history. A year later, he won gold at the European Road Running Championships marathon in Leuven.
