Odile Ahouanwanou: "The standard of heptathlon in Africa is low"

Sport News Africa: What are your goals for the new sporting season?

Odile AHOUANWANOU: My goal this 2022-2023 season is to qualify for the World Athletics Championships, scheduled for August in Budapest, and also for the next Olympic Games. After that, it is about taking part in the various African competitions this year.

Qualification for Paris 2024 is still under way. How are you preparing for this major athletics event?

Given that the aim is to qualify for the Olympics, obviously the training stays the same. I train morning and evening. On top of that, there are preparation camps.

If you qualify, can Benin hope to finally win a first Olympic medal?

It's my dream, but let's not kid ourselves. You have to be in the right conditions and in ideal form to go after an Olympic medal.

At the last African Athletics Championships, held in Mauritius in June 2022, you blew away the opposition to retain your title. Should we put that down to the weak level of your rivals?

I don't underestimate my competitors, but I'm aware that the standard of heptathlon in Africa is lower than in Europe.

You were unable to compete at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon because of a visa problem. What happened?

I took my absence from Eugene very badly. I didn't get the visa. Perhaps the paperwork wasn't started early enough, because it was less than a month before that I was told I had to do the application online myself. I think the international bodies must do everything they can so that African athletes no longer suffer this kind of problem. The responsibility is shared between our own officials and the major governing bodies.

Odile, you are 32 and still at the peak of your powers. Are you already thinking about retirement or a change of career?

I know that one day I will stop with athletics. After that, I will coach athletes and give back to the sport what it has given me.

Rachidi DOSSA