PARIS, France – Zouhair Talbi, a former track star from Oklahoma City University, made his Olympic debut in the Men’s Marathon at the 2024 Paris Games, finishing 34th overall in a field of world-class competitors.
In his career at OCU, Talbi became a two-time NAIA men’s cross country athlete of the year, NAIA indoor men’s track & field athlete of the year, two-time NAIA South Central Region cross country athlete of the year, two-time Sooner Athletic Conference male athlete of the year, two-time individual cross country national champion and two-time SAC cross country individual champion.
Ultimately driven by his unwavering commitment to excellence, he earned a place on the U.S. Olympic team.
The Men’s Marathon saw a fast and aggressive pace from the start. Talbi, with pure dedication in his heart, crossed the finish line in 34th place with a time of 2:11:51.
Zouhair Talbi’s Olympic journey was marked by both triumph and challenge including a tricky sickness a few days before the race. Reflecting on his experience, Talbi shared, “The Olympic experience was unlike any other race. It was the biggest race of my life, and I dedicated so much focus and made many sacrifices for it.”
His Olympic journey is a testament to years of relentless dedication and unwavering focus. Reflecting on what it took to reach the world’s biggest stage, Talbi said, “My journey to the Olympics was built on years of hard work and consistency. The biggest lesson I learned along the way was how to trust the process. There are always highs and lows, and sometimes progress seems slow, but every step matters.”
Talbi’s path was shaped by his time at Oklahoma City University, where he trained under coaches Matt Aguero and Frezer Legesse.
Coach Legesse emphasized the importance of focusing on the essentials rather than distractions. He also highlighted the impact of Zouhair’s journey on current athletes.
“I think seeing Zouhair run at OCU inspires and motivates those individuals who are here on our team.”
Coach Frezer Legesse reflected on the tough decisions made by Zouhair as he stayed true to his dedication, saying, “You’re making sacrifices in social life and other areas, but as long as that priority is straight, those things don’t look like sacrifices.”
Despite facing challenges, including an untimely illness at the Olympics, Zouhair’s journey is far from over. His story remains one of resilience and determination, with his focus firmly on future success.
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