By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
ACLSportsACLSportsACLSports
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Football
  • Naijaheroes
  • Grassroots
  • Basketball
  • Athletics
  • News
  • More
    • Laughter, Leather & Losses
    • #YOURSPORTSMEMO Podcast
    • Blogs
    • Competition
Reading: Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Zango hoping to clinch gold
Share
Font ResizerAa
ACLSportsACLSports
Search
  • Home
  • Laughter, Leather & Losses
  • Football
  • Naijaheroes
  • Grassroots
  • Basketball
  • Athletics
  • News
  • #YourSportsMemo
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
ACLSports > Blog > Interviews > Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Zango hoping to clinch gold
InterviewsOlympics

Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Zango hoping to clinch gold

Kingsley Kobo
Last updated: August 31, 2021 12:36 am
Kingsley Kobo
Published: August 31, 2021
Share
Fabrice Zango
As featured on NewsNow: Sport news
Sport News 24/7 

Hugues Fabrice Zango is a triple jump and long jump specialist who recently returned from the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan with a bronze medal in triple jump.

In January of 2021, the 28-year-old of Burkina Faso claimed the world indoor record in triple jump with a distance of 18.07 metres (59 ft 3+1⁄4 in), becoming also the first African to hold a world record in a jumping event.

That achievement buoyed his confidence ahead of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo but proved not enough as he fell short of his personal objectives for the Games, he says.

“After that indoor competition in France, I felt so strong and confident that I was going to do something great in Tokyo. It was the first time I was having such an obstinate feeling for a competition. However, I got bronze eventually. It’s not bad considering the challenges from the Covid-19, but deep down in me I knew I could have done better. I had the resources to pull it off,” Zango tells ACLsports.

- Advertisement -

Like many other athletes, Zango had his share of problems related to the pandemic that distabilised his preparations for the Games. Travel restrictions and dwindling financial assistance forced him to modify his plans, he says.

“I was supposed to have full preparations in Europe but due to the Covid 19 issues I was constrained to minimum training for months in Burkina Faso where the facilities are not very ideal. The places I had wanted to visit as part of my groundwork were in confinement, meaning I had to make do with what was available.

“Secondly, sponsorship dried up, even government assistance was drastically slashed as the authorities had other urgent priorities such as the fight against the Covid. However, I realised there was nothing much I could change other than structural adjustments, which sustained me until the competitions. I did travel later but it was not enough according to our initial plan,” he says.

On August 5, 2021, Zango won Burkina Faso’s first Olympic medal, a bronze, in the men’s triple jump with a distance of 17.47 metres, to become a national hero and a household name in the West African country where football remains the king of sports. However, he believes his recent achievement would boost interest for track and field disciplines in the country.

“When I returned home I was told the whole nation was watching and praying for me. It shows that they love what I was doing and that could trigger interest among young people to get involved. If track and field could get the same attention and budget like football I believe we would get more medals. As for me, I am not settling with bronze. I hope to clinch gold next time like I did in Asaba (Nigeria) during the 2018 African Championships.”

Volleyball: Defence Spikers unbeaten at National Div 2 League
MFMRAN: Ilechukwu prepared for tough Rangers test
Kolade eyes podium finish at President Cup in Morocco
Hakeem Salami: I Miss Playing Handball
Ardova Handball: We will shock Dynamos says Abdulkadir
TAGGED:2020 Tokyo Olympic GamesBurkina FasoFabrice ZangoTriple Jump
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Previous Article Costello, the sensational white Ivorian at Afrobasket 2021
Next Article D’Tigers bow out as World Cup qualifiers opponent revealed
Leave a Comment

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Categories

YourSportsMemo

Latest News

GatewayGames2024: NSC bars athletes with doping cases 
Competition News Para Sports
Lagos to Madrid: where next for Super Falcons Rasheedat Ajibade?
Football News Super Falcons Women's Football
GatewayGames2024: Lagos, Oyo sweep gold in weightlifting
#YourSportsMemo Competition News Weightlifting
Wikki Tourists, Barau FC reach NNL playoffs
Football Grassroots News

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow

Archives

Latest News

Bayelsa Queens crowned champions in dominant Super 6 Finale
Football News NWFL
Super Six Finale: Four Teams, One Trophy, All to Play For.
Football News NWFL
Victor Osimhen leads Galatasaray to Turkish Cup triumph
Football News Super Eagles

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 16.7K other subscribers
ACLSportsACLSports
Follow US
© ACLSports. All Rights Reserved.
adbanner