African Wrestling Champion Inspires Next Generation of Female Wrestlers

A Life Dedicated to Wrestling

In the sleepy village of Mlomp in southern Senegal, African wrestling champion Isabelle Sambou fixes her mosquito net in her humble home.

Now aged 43, Sambou is a two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion.

Sambou represented Senegal at the Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro.

Coaching the Next Generation

Back home now, she coaches the women in her village, hoping to help train the next Olympic athlete.

“Here, in my village, women wrestle. It’s our tradition,” she says.

It’s a common sight across Senegal, where wrestling is a national sport and wrestlers are celebrated like rock stars.

Senegalese wrestle for entertainment and to celebrate special occasions. The professional version of the sport draws thousands to stadiums and can be a catapult to international stardom.

But in most of the country, wrestling remains off-limits for women.

Except for here in Casamance region, home to the Jola ethnic group, where women traditionally wrestle alongside men.

Overcoming Challenges

“When you do women’s wrestling, you will have a lot of people who make fun of you. I lived through that when I went to Zuiginchor (the regional capital) 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?’” says Sambou.

Sambou now spends her time between the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and her home town coaching girls in wrestling.

She didn’t bring home any medals from her bouts at the Olympics, so she’s now determined that one of her trainees will succeed.

“After I stopped wrestling professionally, until now I don’t have work. I’m also not married yet. Well, that’s how it is. It’s just that when I stopped, I came back here to my village. I told myself that 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. Because it was my dream to bring a medal to Senegal,” she says.

Laamb: A Traditional Sport

The local variation of wrestling is called laamb in Wolof, one of the national languages. It has been part of village life for centuries.

At today’s training session, most of the teenagers on the sandy ground are girls.

Among them is 18-year-old Mame Marie Sambou who says she has been inspired to wrestle by watching Sambou.

Although she shares the same surname, Mame Marie is not related to Sambou.

“She was a wrestler, and I saw her and said, well I’m going to be like her. 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.”

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Champions

Inspiring tomorrow’s champions while fiercely guarding her village traditions.

Conclusion

Isabelle Sambou’s dedication to wrestling and her village’s traditions is an inspiration to many young women in Senegal. As she continues to coach and mentor the next generation of female wrestlers, she remains committed to bringing a medal to Senegal.

FAQs

Q: What is laamb?

A: Laamb is the local variation of wrestling in Senegal, known for centuries as a traditional sport.

Q: Why is wrestling off-limits for women in most of Senegal?

A: Despite being a national sport, wrestling is often seen as a masculine activity, and women are discouraged from participating.

Q: What is Isabelle Sambou’s goal?

A: Sambou’s goal is to bring a medal to Senegal and inspire the next generation of female wrestlers.