Abderrahman Ait Khamouch

Abdel (Athlete, 26 Jan 2011)

Competing at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, and winning gold at the 2015 Marathon World Championships in London, England. (atletismecastello.es, 01 Dec 2015)

Coach Hector Garcia. (Athlete, 26 Jan 2011)

Moroccan runners Said Aouita and Hicham El Guerrouj. (elmundo.es, 11 Sep 2008; Athlete, 26 Jan 2011)

He experienced foot problems in 2016. (elperiodicomediterraneo.com, 15 Jun 2016)

He underwent operations on his knee in 2014 and 2015. (atletismecastello.es, 01 Dec 2015; disabilityinaction.com, 08 Apr 2014)

He had a cold in the week before the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. During the marathon, he suffered a coughing fit when he was leading the race, and went on to finish second. (mundodeportivo.com, 09 Sep 2012)

"If you want honey, you have to endure the sting of bees." (elperiodico.com, 16 Nov 2013)

He received the 2016 Juan Palau Award from the Spanish Sports Federation for Athletes with an Impairment [FEDDF]. (practicodeporte.com, 24 May 2016)

In 2015 he was presented with the gold medal of the Royal Order of Sports' Merit by the Sports Superior Council of the Spanish government. In 2013 he had received the silver medal. (atletismecastello.es, 01 Dec 2015; dxtadaptado.com, 15 Sep 2015)

At age eight he broke his right wrist after he fell into a well. He then had to have his arm amputated after getting gangrene due to poor medical care. (disabilityinaction.com, 08 Apr 2014)

FROM MOROCCO TO SPAIN
Born in a village in southern Morocco called Mellab, he left for Spain at age 15. He initially settled in the Canary Islands before moving to Barcelona on the mainland. (disabilityinaction.com, 08 Apr 2014; elmundo.es, 11 Sep 2008)

AUTHOR
He has written a book about his life called 'El Angel del Ala Partida' [The Angel with the Broken Wing]. It covers his departure from Morocco, his arrival in Spain, as well as his athletics career. (atletismecastello.es, 01 Dec 2015; disabilityinaction.com, 08 Apr 2014; casadellibro.com, 2009)