Moroccan-born taekwondoka Faissal Ebnoutalib represented Germany at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the welterweight class and won the silver medal, losing the final to Cuban Ángel Matos. He started his career as a youth in Morocco and moved to Germany in 1990 together with his brother Mohamed. In 1997, Faissal received German citizenship and competed for his new home country.
Internationally, Ebnoutalib won the 2000 European Championships and a bronze medal at the 1999 World Championships, for which was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award. He also won several international tournaments in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Denmark. From 1997-2000 he won four consecutive German national titles. After his active career he turned to coaching.
Germany