In Mlomp, a village in southern Senegal, wrestling is a popular sport where teenagers in colorful jerseys practice to the rhythm of Afrobeats amidst palm trees. Wrestling, known as laamb in Wolof and a national sport in Senegal, is traditionally dominated by men, but in the Casamance region, women from the Jola ethnic group wrestle alongside men from a young age.
Isabelle Sambou, a 43-year-old coach and former Olympian, is a testament to the changing tide for women in Senegalese wrestling. She followed in the footsteps of her aunt, a former village wrestling champion, to pursue a career in professional wrestling. Despite facing societal stigma and challenges, Sambou represented Senegal at the Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro.
After retiring from professional wrestling, Sambou returned to her village, where she now coaches aspiring female wrestlers with limited resources. The lack of funding for female sports in sub-Saharan Africa poses a challenge, but Sambou’s students defied expectations by winning medals at the Africa youth championship in Dakar.
Despite her contributions to Senegalese wrestling, Sambou faces financial struggles as there is no pension system for retired athletes in the country. To make ends meet, she works in a small shop and cleans houses. Despite these challenges, attitudes towards women in wrestling are evolving, with more parents seeking out Sambou to coach their children, regardless of gender.
Sambou’s niece, Mame Marie Sambou, recently won a gold medal at the youth championship in Dakar and aspires to become a professional wrestler like her aunt. With Senegal hosting the Youth Olympic Games in two years, there is hope for more opportunities for female wrestlers to shine on the international stage. Sambou’s dedication to coaching and empowering the next generation of wrestlers highlights the resilience and determination of Senegalese women in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
