Written by Trackandmemes, January 12, 2022
My name is Djénébou Danté. I am a high level athlete from Mali. I started athletics in 2003 so I have been running for 19 years. I do a lot of competitions. I have run in Africa, Europe, Asia and America. I did the world championships in all categories, cadet, junior and senior, both indoors and outdoors. I also did the Games twice. Gold medalist at the Francophonie games for my country, I also obtained many West African medals.
Originally, I played basketball. To this day, it is the sport I love. But if I had continued with basketball, I might not have been at the level I am now.
What are your personal records?
I run the lap in 52'16''. I have a record of 11'76'' in the 100 meters and 23'83'' in the 200 meters.
You have reached the top level, but remain to this day without a sponsor... Is there a reason for this?
I didn't have a manager. Two years ago I was injured, and when I came back I didn't have a manager to get me into the big competitions so I could be noticed. If you manage to be seen in the big competitions, then you are highlighted... I think that in terms of sponsors, the level is not enough. You have to have a good manager. But in the first place you can have the equipment, which will help you a lot. And then, if you make good performances, they pay you. I'm not French either, which makes it a bit more complicated. I asked the brands, but they told me that I had to ask my federation to do it for me, because the brands I turned to don't sponsor a person, but a federation. I think it's because I went in as an athlete. If I had a manager, he would negotiate for me and I might have gotten something. Also, afterwards, I got injured and it was complicated to come back to the same level as before.
You had the opportunity to participate in the 2020 games (in 2021) in Tokyo, in a discipline other than the one you are assigned. How did it go?
It was complicated... I have the willies until today... I asked myself what I was doing at the Olympics, and yet it was my dream to go there. After training for five years on 400 meters, in two weeks, I found myself on 100 meters... It is difficult to explain because there are federations... Originally, I was not qualified, because I had not done the minimum. The performance to be achieved to reach the Games was 51'35''. And those who had made the minimum were given priority in their own discipline. But the countries which do not have qualified, as it was the case of my country, obtain a "White Card". This means that, as it is the Olympic Games, all countries must be represented. So they give two White Cards to the countries that do not have qualified women to represent them. So I found myself with other unqualified athletes; two running athletes, a taekwondo athlete, and a swimmer. But my federation put me on 100 meters...
You recently joined a new training group, the Bamteam, coached by one of the mothers of athletics, Carole Bam. How is it going?
It's a dream come true. Cynthia is Coach Carole's athlete. Cynthia is also a friend of mine that I know since 2015, because she used to train in Senegal with us. We also did the Ivory Coast meeting twice. We did competitions together. We had about the same level before her injury. She had two years of injuries... It was sad, it was complicated... But this year, she came back and she surprised everyone! I congratulate her! She came back from a very difficult injury and she blew it! I tell myself that if I train with her, it will boost me. We saw each other at the Olympics and it was there that I spoke with the Mama coach (Carole BAM). We concluded that training with Cynthia would help me because I don't have anyone to pull me in training. Training for the 400 meters is sometimes hard to do alone... At a certain level, you can't do it right. But if you have someone who pushes you, who puts a little pressure on you, you break through. You progress. The 400 meters is all about repetitions. Each time you're lactic and you get into it. Eventually the time comes out in competition. Cynthia is a fighter. She never gave up, she always kept working. And Coach Carole, she's a woman. She's my idol! I'm a bit of a feminist, and when I saw the journey of both of them, it inspired me. I want to be like her, like Carole BAM. Maybe in the future I'll coach champions too. Also, when I joined the BamTeam, I immediately noticed that there was a youth full of energy, who is ready to blow up. I thought "wow!
Any plans for the future?
But I also created my association last year in France. It is called 4D Mali. "D" for Djénébou, Danté, Development and Sustainable. So, Djénébou Danté for sustainable development in Mali. The goal is to accompany, especially girls, on health, education and digital. In my country, athletics is not fashionable nor considered as a sport that women can practice. Because when we work out, people think we are too muscular and compare us to men. It's hard to get a husband, unless you go with an athlete. What's bad is that girls are giving up their studies for this sport. And athletics doesn't pay if you're not world class. If you are injured, everyone leaves you; your sponsors, your federation... So you risk losing out, because you will have nothing. No performance, no sponsor, no money... It's like that in all sports, but in athletics it's even worse. It's a sport where when you shine, everyone comes to you. Even the meetings write to you. But when you're not doing well, everyone leaves you, because you don't run fast anymore. The managers leave you, because they can't take you to the meetings where they earn their percentage. The brands leave you, because you can't represent them in big competitions... It's better to have a diploma, something in your head, because no matter what happens, at least you will have a diploma. I would like to accompany the girls at this level... In Africa, women are the pillars of the family. They take care of the children, educate them, take care of the husband, the in-laws... But if you don't know how to read and write, it will be complicated, because you won't be able to serve your household. I work with UNICEF Mali to accompany the girls on education. First the school, and then the leisure (sport). I would like to accompany them both in school and in sports. I would be there as a helper, advisor and coach. I would also like to organize competitions in Mali to identify and recruit talent. In this way, the association will be able to support them by financing their studies, offer them equipment, find them a club in Europe so that they can compete and/or train. Through my club, I have collected shoes, clothes, school supplies to give to the clubs so that they can distribute them to the athletes who need them. When I was growing up, I know I couldn't buy a pair of spikes, so if I can give them a pair of spikes, t-shirts,... they might think "Wow... she gave me that". When you don't have much, I know what it's worth to have a pair of spikes. At their age and level, I would have been so happy. I would have thought, "If I get any better, it will give me more. I want to help them break through, and then the performance will open doors for them.
In terms of financing, we need to pay for competitions, equipment, volunteers... We also need to train the coaches! If I go back home to Mali, I don't have a coach... I need funds for all this, but for the moment, I have nothing. I am currently looking for help.
Any last words?
I am very happy to be in the BamTeam. Thanks to the dynamic young people who are there, the BamTeam is the team with a future. It's not easy, but you just have to believe and work. Everything is possible.
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