Most of the pre-race talk was about the rivalry between El Bakkali and Girma, but the climax was overshadowed as the world record holder was taken to hospital following his fall on the final lap.
After tripping over the third-to-last barrier, the 23-year-old was quickly attended to by medical staff and had a neck brace fitted before being carried off the track on a stretcher.
“Following his fall in the 3,000m steeplechase, Lamecha Girma received immediate care from the on-site medical teams. Our thoughts are with him and we are sending him our very best wishes for a swift recovery,” Paris 2024 said in a statement.
“Paris 2024 is in close contact with Ethiopian Olympic officials to stay updated on his condition.”
Girma, who broke the men’s 3,000m steeplechase in Paris last year, was defeated by El Bakkali at the Olympics in Tokyo and the last two World Championships.
It looked as if Ethiopia might have a plan to help their man finally end his silver streak, as all three of the country’s runners at Paris 2024 – Samuel Firewu, Getnet Wale and Girma – hit the front early.
But just when it seemed like a fast race was in the offing, the Ethiopian trio allowed the pace to drop and the field bunched up again.
Uganda’s Leonard Chemutai looked as if he might take advantage before taking a fall at one of the barriers, with Rooks making his surge at the bell.
That was the sign for El Bakkali and Girma to spark into life and both looked strong until the Ethiopian’s nasty looking fall drew gasps from the crowd at the Stade de France.
The tall figure of El Bakkali took full advantage to overhaul his competitors and win Morocco’s first medal of the Games.