Adama
Jammeh aims to end Gambia’s wait for Olympic Medal
One
of the finest male athletes in The Gambia today, Adama Jammeh, will be the star
act in a Gambian side that is heading to Rio 2016 with designs on winning the
one major medal that still eludes the smallest West African state.
“If
Gambia have yet to win a medal that we’re all dreaming about, then it means our
time is still to come,” says a philosophical Adama Jammeh as he contemplates
his country’s longstanding unfulfilled
quest for Olympic medal.
In
the 2012 London Olympics, The Gambia was represented by Suwaibou Sanneh, who
was eliminated in the semifinals of the 100m.
For
this year’s Summer Olympic Games, The Gambia will be represented by sprinters
Adama Jammeh and Miss Gina Bass as well as Finland-based Gambian judoka Fye
Alex Njie and swimmer Modou Jonga.
Adama
Jammeh secured his place at the Games by winning silver and finishing within
the qualification time at the finals of the African Seniors Athletics
Championship in Durban, South Africa, in June.
Gambians
are banking on their star man Adama Jammeh to help them accomplish that
cherished objective.
Born
on 10 June 1993 in Sitanunku Village in Nuimi, North Bank Region, the Gambia
Prison Services officer got himself noticed at an early age thanks to his speed
on the track.
Seen
his potential, The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) offered him an
Olympic Solidarity Scholarship to train at the IAAAF High Performance Center in
Dakar, Senegal, through recommendation from The Gambia Athletics Association
(GAA).
Since
then Adama Jammeh has kept his performance ascending in the past two years.
He
has set his personal best (PB) in all the major competitions he took part from
2014 to date.
He
clocked 40.57 in the 400m in African Senior Championship in April 2014 in
Abidjan, finalist in the 200m at the All African Games in Brazzaville, Congo,
where he was ranked 4th in Africa, 10.25 in Montgeron, France, in the 100m in
May 2016 and finally broke the national record in the 200m with a time of
20.45, silver medalist and Olympic qualification at the Africa Senior Athletics
Championship held in Durban, South Africa, in June 2016.
The
Olympic experience
To
ensure he is fit and prepare to go for the Rio Games, the 23-year-old was
awarded scholarship by the Gambia National Olympic Committee to train at the
Italian Olympic Committee training centre in Formia ahead of the games.
“I’ve
competed at the World Athletics Championship in Beijing, China, and two African
Championships and the Olympic Games will complete the set. I’m going to be so
happy about it,” he said.
