The Summer Olympics in 2024 will take place in Paris, France, from July 26 (the opening ceremony) to August 11, with 16 days to go until the competition begins. Long- and triple-jumper Hugues Fabrice Zango, a star from Burkina Faso, has acknowledged that he is under pressure in front of Paris 2024.
The 31-year-old, who won bronze in the men’s triple jump at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is one of the favorites to win gold in the ‘City of Lights’. Zango, who won the gold medal in the triple jump at the 2023 World Championships, is aware of the expectations placed on him, but he hopes to capitalize on the pressure.
“Of course there is pressure, but you have to use it to up your game. I strongly believe in my chances given everything I’ve achieved and the experience I’ve gained in recent years,” he explained. “I hope to realize my full potential because these could be my last games, given that I’m now 31 years old. For now, I will just give everything and hope to reach my potential. I have to come out of these games with no regrets.”
Olympics Hugues Fabrice Zango
Although the medals have been the tangible highlight of Zango’s sporting career, he knows that his true victory is in the inspiration he has given to the people of Burkina Faso. “Now, when I say that I am going to the Olympic Games to win gold, everyone believes me. It’s extremely important to me because it shows a change of mentality since 2016,” the Ouagadougou-born athlete added.
“And that is one of the biggest victories of my sporting career: showing, as a Burkinabé, that no matter where you come from in the world, it’s possible that if the conditions are right and you give what is required, you can succeed, too.”
Elsewhere, United States gymnastics icon Simone Bilesis is raring to go at the 2024 Paris Games after her long-awaited return to the sport. The 27-year-old booked her ticket to the 2024 Games after recording an all-round score of 117.225 at the US Olympic trials late in June, marking her return to the Olympics as one of the major narratives to keep an eye on.
Biles took a break from the sport following the 2020 Tokyo games in a bid to take care of her “mental health and safety.” Upon her return in 2023, Biles bagged her sixth world title, three gold medals, and two national championships, leading up to her qualifying for the US Olympic team.
“I knew I wasn’t done after the performances in Tokyo,” Biles claimed. “I just had to get back in the gym, work hard, and trust the process. I knew I would be back.”
The Olympics games will be showing live on DSTV
ALSO READ: Ugandan star Peruth Chemutai to compete in the 2024 Olympics women’s 3000m steeplechase