As the West African heat finally subsides in Mlomp, a village in southern Senegal, groups of teenagers engage in friendly wrestling matches to the beat of Afrobeats against a backdrop of palm trees.
This scene is a common sight in Senegal, where wrestling is a national sport and wrestlers are revered like celebrities. Known as laamb in Wolof, the local variation of wrestling has been a part of village life for centuries. While wrestling remains predominantly male-dominated in most of the country, there is an exception in the Casamance region, home to the Jola ethnic group, where women traditionally wrestle alongside men.
Coach Isabelle Sambou, a two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, hails from this tradition. Despite facing criticism and challenges as a female wrestler in a conservative society, Sambou pursued her passion and represented Senegal at the Olympic Games.
After retiring from professional wrestling, Sambou returned to her village to coach young girls in wrestling, striving to empower the next generation of female athletes. Despite limited resources and societal obstacles, her students have achieved remarkable success, winning medals in various competitions.
While Sambou continues to face financial challenges and lack of formal education, she remains dedicated to coaching and inspiring young athletes, regardless of their gender. The changing perception of women in Senegalese society is evident as more parents seek her coaching for their children, including girls.
One of Sambou’s protégés, her 17-year-old niece Mame Marie Sambou, recently won a gold medal at a youth championship in Dakar. With the dream of becoming a professional wrestler and competing internationally, she looks up to her aunt as a role model.