Ramzi Boukhiam (born 14 September 1993) is a
Moroccan surfer. He placed 6th overall at the
2019 ISA World Surfing Games, earning
qualification
Qualification may refer to:
Processes
* Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS), a competitive contract procurement process established by the United States Congress
* Process qualification, ensures that manufacturing and production processes can ...
for the
2020 Summer Olympics
The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...
as the highest-placed African surfer. He competed in the
men's shortboard event at the 2020 Olympics, where he was eliminated in the third round by
Michel Bourez
Michel Bourez (born 30 December 1985) is a French professional surfer.
Biography
Bourez was born on the island of Rurutu in the Tuamotus Islands in French Polynesia and started surfing at age 13. European champion in 2006, Michel entered th ...
of France.
He
qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Biography
Boukhiam was born in Morocco to a Moroccan father and a
Dutch mother. He was encouraged to begin surfing at age eight by his brother Samir. His father passed away when he was eleven, and, two years later, his family moved to France.
In his junior career, Boukhiam was twice a medalist at the
World Junior Championships, including finishing as runner-up to
Gabriel Medina
Gabriel Medina Pinto Ferreira (born 22 December 1993) is a Brazilian professional surfer. He won the 2014, 2018 and 2021 WSL World Championships. In two appearances at the Olympic surfing tournament, Medina won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olym ...
in 2013.
Career
Boukhiam debuted in the World Surf League at the 2011 Quiksilver Pro France, where he came in thirteenth after being defeated by
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972) is an American professional surfer who has been crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times. He is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, and holds 56 Championship T ...
.
In 2022, he became the first Moroccan to qualify for the
World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL) is the governing body for professional surfing, surfers and is dedicated to showcasing the world's best talent in a variety of progressive formats. The WSL was originally known as International Professional Surfing ( ...
's (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). He was unable to compete after breaking his ankle, and was replaced by Costa Rican surfer
Carlos Muñoz.
In February 2023, Boukhiam underwent ankle surgery.
Boukhiam replaced
Filipe Toledo, who withdrew from the WSL 2024 CT season to focus on his mental health in February 2024.
On 3 March 2024, Boukhiam won a silver medal at the
2024 ISA World Surfing Games, thus becoming the first Moroccan to ever win a medal in the
World Surfing Games
The ISA World Surfing Games, formerly known as the ISA World Surfing Championships, are organized by world governing body of surfing, the International Surfing Association (ISA), which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Editio ...
.
Boukhiam placed third in the
SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro, defeating Kelly Slater in the quarterfinals.
Victories
References
External links
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*
*
1993 births
Living people
Moroccan surfers
World Surf League surfers
Olympic surfers for Morocco
Surfers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Surfers at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Sportspeople from Agadir
Shilha people
Dutch sportspeople of Moroccan descent
Moroccan people of Dutch descent
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