Fatshimetrie: Inspiring Senegal’s Future Champions
In the heart of the quiet village of Mlomp, located in southern Senegal, lives Isabelle Sambou, an African wrestling champion who sets up her mosquito net in her humble home. At the age of 43, Isabelle is an athlete who represented Senegal at the London and Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, accumulating multiple titles as African wrestling champion.
Back in her village, Isabelle is now involved in training women in her community, hoping to contribute to the rise of the next Olympic athlete. “Here, in my village, women wrestle. It’s our tradition,” she says with determination.
Senegalese wrestling is a spectacle that is widespread across the country, where wrestlers are celebrated like rock stars. This martial art is practiced to entertain and celebrate special events. The professional version of the sport draws thousands of spectators to stadiums and can propel athletes to international fame.
However, in most of the country, wrestling remains an exclusively male activity. The only exception to this rule is the Casamance region, home of the Jola people, where women traditionally wrestle alongside men.
Isabelle Sambou speaks of the challenges she has faced as a female wrestler, including the ridicule and judgment she has faced. Despite these obstacles, she now spends her time between the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and her home village, where she trains young girls in wrestling.
Having failed to win an Olympic medal during her participations, Isabelle is determined to ensure that one of her students achieves this goal. Her sense of accomplishment lies in passing on her knowledge, in the hope that future generations of female wrestlers will surpass her past performances.
Laamb, the local name for Senegalese wrestling in Wolof, has been deeply rooted in village life for centuries. At a current training session, the majority of the teenagers present are girls, among whom is 18-year-old Mame Marie Sambou. Inspired by Isabelle, although they are not related, Mame Marie asserts her ambition to become a great wrestler despite the doubts of others.
Through her dedication to training the younger generation, Isabelle Sambou embodies the balance between preserving village traditions and striving for sporting excellence. Her commitment to encouraging and inspiring Senegal’s future champions is a testament to her unwavering passion for wrestling and her desire to propel women to new horizons..
Isabelle Sambou, an inexhaustible source of inspiration for women and girls who dream of shining on the tatami, embodies the strength and determination needed to overcome prejudices and obstacles. Her story, mixing tradition and ambition, represents a model for an entire nation and a glimmer of hope for generations to come.