The 2000 season marked the peak of his career: first, he retained his continental title at the 2000 African Championships in Athletics in Algiers with a career best and championship record jump of 2.34 m. He then made his Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games. He reached the final round and cleared 2.32 m – sixth other athletes achieved the same mark but Hammad secured the bronze medal through count-back. He won the high jump at the 2001 Mediterranean Games the following season and was ninth in the final at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. He won a third consecutive high jump title at the 2002 African Championships in Athletics, took bronze at the 2002 IAAF Grand Prix Final and placed fourth for Africa at the 2002 IAAF World Cup.