Wrestling Against the Odds: Senegalese Champion Inspires Future Generations
In the small village of Mlomp, southern Senegal, African wrestling champion Isabelle Sambou is a symbol of determination and resilience. Now 43, Sambou is a two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, who represented Senegal at the Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro.
Despite not bringing home any medals from her Olympic bouts, Sambou is more determined than ever to inspire the next generation of female wrestlers. Back in her village, she coaches girls in wrestling, hoping to train the next Olympic athlete.
“It’s our tradition,” Sambou says, “Here, in my village, women wrestle.”
Wrestling is a national sport in Senegal, and wrestlers are celebrated like rock stars. Senegalese wrestle for entertainment and to celebrate special occasions, with the professional version of the sport drawing thousands to stadiums and offering a path to international stardom. However, in most of the country, wrestling remains off-limits for women.
Except for the Casamance region, home to the Jola ethnic group, where women traditionally wrestle alongside men. It’s here that Sambou found her passion for the sport, despite facing ridicule and skepticism from others.
“When you do women’s wrestling, you will have a lot of people who make fun of you,” Sambou recalls. “I lived through that when I went to Zuiginchor to wrestle. When I wore my shorts, there were people who made fun of me, there were others who said ‘is this a woman or a boy?'”
Sambou now spends her time between the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and her home town coaching girls in wrestling. Among her trainees is 18-year-old Mame Marie Sambou, who has been inspired to wrestle by watching Isabelle Sambou.
“She was a wrestler, and I saw her and said, well I’m going to be like her,” Mame Marie says. “When I started to wrestle, people said that they’ve never seen a girl wrestle. But I never listened to them, because if I did, I would never have found myself here where I am.”
Isabelle Sambou’s story is a testament to her dedication to her craft and her community. Despite the challenges she faced, she remains committed to inspiring the next generation of female wrestlers and fiercely guarding her village traditions.
“I need to find my roots again, in order to find the future Isabelles, the future champions, those who will do maybe more than Isabelle,” Sambou says. “Because it was my dream to bring a medal to Senegal.”
With her inspiring story and unwavering passion for the sport, Isabelle Sambou is paving the way for a new era of female wrestlers in Senegal, one that will undoubtedly make her proud.