One of his superior officers noticed El Ouafi's outstanding athletic abilities, and decided to send him to military sports competition in mainland France.

He was never caught by any of the other runners, and finished first, 26 seconds ahead of second-placed Manuel Plaza from Chile.

El Ouafi was the only representative of French athletics to win gold at the 1928 Olympics.

However, the money he earned with this trip disqualified him as an amateur, causing him to leave the sport, and he opened a cafe in Paris.

El Ouafi remained forgotten until 1956, when another Algerian, Alain Mimoun, also won the Olympic marathon.