Turkey: Marthe Koala wins gold medal in long jump at Islamic Games

Burkinabè athlete Marthe Koala
Burkinabè athlete Marthe Koala won a gold medal in the long jump at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey, on August 9, 2022. She made a jump of 6m53.

It is the second time, in the space of two months, that the Burkinabè specialist in the combined events as well as the 100 meter hurdles has won a gold medal in the long jump.

At the 5th edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey on August 9, Marthe Koala jumped 6m53. Enough to finish on the top step of the podium.

In June 2022, the 28-year-old Burkinabè athlete had also won the gold medal at the African Athletics Championships in Mauritius. With a performance of 6.42 meters, the native of the city of Sya (Bobo Dioulasso) smashed the records of Moroccan Yousra Lajdoud (6.37) and Egyptian Esraa Samir (6.29), thus giving Burkina Faso its very first gold medal at the African Athletics Championships.

Former champion and also vice-champion of Africa in heptathlon, Marthe Koala abandoned this discipline to devote herself to the 100m hurdles and the long jump.

She was the only female hope for the defense of the Burkinabè national colors at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games (OG). However, Marthe had thrown in the towel, following an injury contracted to the adductors, during the shot put session.

Announced to represent Burkina Faso in the long jump at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in the United States, in July 2022, Marthe Koala was unfortunately unable to participate in the competition.

The Burkinabè athlete had still not obtained a visa for the United States, she would have taken all the steps in France where she trains to obtain the visa in vain.

This was enough to raise an outcry on social networks on the side of Burkina Faso. The dissatisfaction was palpable. The president of Le Faso differently, Ablassé Ouédraogo writes in these terms: “It is simply astounding, unacceptable and even revolting. Marthe KOALA was quite simply treated like an orphan, as if she had no country”.

In his writing, Ablassé Ouédraogo concludes by declaring: “Please, let us be professional and always take our responsibilities seriously”.
Yaovi AGBEGNIGAN