Rich in talent, Senegalese athletics faces a major challenge. It suffers from poor management and a glaring lack of financial and material resources. The budget allocated to the discipline is often insufficient to cover all the needs (travel, equipment, coaches’ salaries and program development) of the athletes who represent our country on the international stage. Our ambassadors, despite promising performances, live in chronic precariousness.
In recent years, Senegalese athletics has been regaining its former glory. During the last African Championships (June 21 to 26, 2024) in Douala, Senegal won three gold medals thanks to Louis François Mendy, Cheikh Tidiane Diouf and Saly Sarr. The last time Senegal achieved such a feat was in 2012, in Porto-Novo, Benin, with the coronation of Ndiss Kaba Badji in the high jump, Gnima Faye in the 100m hurdles and Amy Sène in the hammer. Mamadou Kassé Hann settled for silver in the 400m hurdles, Amy Mbacké Thiam for bronze in the 400m and the women’s 4×400 relay team took bronze. After the fiasco in Asaba, Nigeria, in 2018 and the mixed results in Mauritius in 2022 (1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze), these performances achieved on Cameroonian soil prove that Senegalese athletics is in the process of relaunching.
However, behind the glory on the slopes, precariousness constitutes the daily life of several athletes. Indeed, their life is not a long, quiet river, especially from a financial point of view. Many of them have to juggle studies, work and training; which complicates their progress. Likewise, financing competitions and preparation courses remains a crucial issue. In Senegal, athletics is generally not a source of immediate income or financial stability for the majority of athletes. Unless you reach an elite level. Professional athletes can earn money through competitions, sponsorship deals and bonuses, but these opportunities are often limited to the world’s top performers. However, for the majority, financial support is often limited, sometimes non-existent. Daily allowances for international competitions have not been increased for more than 20 years, which creates a gap between expectations and reality. Sometimes premium arrears can accumulate for years. This was the case with unpaid bonuses since 2007 which were only settled in 2011. This lack of regularity in payments affects the motivation and preparation of athletes.
This situation raises questions about the valuation of athletes in a country where football and basketball appear to receive far greater attention and resources. “It is essential, for an international athlete, to be financially ready, which allows them to perform well,” says Cheikh Tidiane Diouf, the national 400m record holder in 44”94 since the Paris Olympics in 2024 And he knows what he’s talking about, having traveled from Senegal to France three times to look for the minimums. He paid for his tickets himself. “I also did internships in Spain, but it wasn’t easy at all. Performance comes at a price. However, in Senegal, we do not have an Olympic scholarship,” complains the lap specialist. He appeals to the authorities to help the athletes. And to promise that “if the means are there, results will follow”.
The other side of the coin
In athletics as in all other disciplines, the medal, the object of all desires and symbol of sporting success, is the Holy Grail of high-level athletes. In Senegal, its value is often perceived through the prism of financial rewards and recognition. Unfortunately, medals won at competitions, such as the African Championships, usually come with modest bonuses. After winning the 110m final at the last African Championships, in Douala, Cameroon, Louis François Mendy decried the bonus granted by the Ministry of Sports, which he considered derisory compared to the bonuses received by footballers. But, beyond all these considerations, the hurdler believes that a medal is the fruit of sacrifices, long hours of training and moments of doubt. “It has immense symbolic value, can open doors, inspire young people and create opportunities. It can completely change the life of an athlete, unless the support system is improved,” explains Louis François. A medal represents, for him, “an honor and a responsibility, that of continuing to fly the colors of his country”.
-Like him, Frédéric Mendy, specialist in the 400m flat, believes that a medal can have significant symbolic and emotional value for a professional athlete who participates in major events. In his opinion, it can also push the athlete to improve and set new goals. “Financially, a medal can offer additional income opportunities through advertising and visibility. For professional opportunities, medals, especially from major events like the world championships, the Olympic Games, can open doors to sponsorship contracts or other things,” he says.
Precariousness is the common denominator for many athletes. Making a living from athletics is, for many of them, a real challenge. They often have to juggle their passion with significant financial constraints. According to Louis François Mendy, athletics, like any passion, requires sacrifices. “This is not always easy, especially in a context where resources and supports are limited. But, beyond the material aspect, this sport brings me immense personal fulfillment. The discipline, the values and the visibility that I gain as an athlete also nourish me on a human level,” says the hurdler. Saly Sarr maintains, for his part, that athletics could nourish his man if the conditions are met. “If we invest, it can pay off, otherwise it will not help feed people,” she says. Frédéric Mendy’s conviction is that professional athletes can earn a living during their professional career thanks to athletics, particularly through sponsorship contracts, sporting competitions such as major Diamond League meetings and advertising. And added: “We can say that athletics promotes a healthy lifestyle. Which can also improve quality of life and longevity if professional athletes are well supported by their country,” he notes.
Fama NDIAYE
