Portrait
Carine Mekam: a medal that weighs for Gabonese athletics
Gabonese Carine Mekam.
© Courtesy of Carine Mekam.
Text by: Christophe Jousset Follow
2 mins
Shot putter Carine Mekam Ndong became African vice-champion on Wednesday June 8, 2022 at the Côte d'Or Complex in Mauritius.
A silver medal which is an event for Gabonese athletics.
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From our special envoy to Mauritius,
Gabonese athletics has waited too long not to rejoice in such good news: for the first time in ten years, it has won a medal at
the African Championships
.
As in 2012 with Ruddy Zang-Milama's victory over 100 meters in Porto-Novo, happiness came from a woman.
This Wednesday, June 8, 2022, Carine Mekam Ndong finished second in the shot put, beating her personal best twice to bring it to 15.87 meters, a new national record.
The South African Ischke Senekal took the gold with 16.40 meters but the Gabonese does not sulk her pleasure.
“
It's magnificent!
I was too stressed, I led the competition but then she passed... It was too hard but I'm too proud of myself!
“, she confides to RFI after an afternoon spent receiving congratulations from all sides.
“
I received too many messages
, she laughs.
I was tired but I couldn't sleep
”.
The Robert Michon inspiration
Born in Libreville, the shot putter lived all her youth in the country.
At 25, she followed those who advised her to go to France to progress, joined the Dynamic Aulnay Club, which she never left.
A first international competition in 2017: she was second in the Francophone Games in Abidjan.
Carine Mekam Ndong leads her sports career and her life as a mother.
She has three children: a 15-year-old girl and two 6-year-old and soon to be 3-year-old boys.
“
After my last delivery, I thought I had to stop, that I had no more strength.
But I came back and broke my record so I kept going.
“Physical strength, mental strength and a role model to look up to.
“
I always take the example of the French discus thrower Mélina Robert-Michon [at 42, the Olympic vice-champion is still active, Editor's note].
She said: it's not the age that decides, it's my body that will tell me if I stop or not.
When I think of her, I am motivated, I continue to train.
In a few days, the Gabonese will celebrate her 37th birthday.
"
I still have a lot of things to do.
»
The weight to raise
At his side, Taty Anaclet Mathieu savors this beautiful day which he sees as the sign of a revival of Gabonese
athletics
which he has led since his election in October 2020. In the country, this sport has experienced several difficult years with in particular a suspension by the International Federation (World Athletics) for political interference in sports affairs.
By throwing a four-kilo ball not far from sixteen meters, Carine Mekam Ndong showed the direction to follow.
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