She is 28 years old and stands as the lone high-level athlete from Benin. Originally trained as a soldier, Noëlie Yarigo eventually found her passion in sprinting. Her ultimate dream now is to represent Benin at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. But first, she must excel at the upcoming African Championships held in Marrakech.
To pursue her ambitions, the Beninese athlete has been training in Blois, France, since April 2013. Her hard work is beginning to pay off, as evidenced by her victory in the 800m at the French Indoor Championships on February 24.
“I went into these championships with one goal: to win. I had full confidence in my fitness,” she shared with RFI, expressing her joy.
This success follows her recent achievement of breaking Benin’s record in the 800m with a time of 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Despite setbacks, such as her elimination in the series during the Francophonie Games in 2013, Yarigo remains resilient.
“I was truly disappointed. I believed I had the potential to reach the podium, but I didn’t make it to the final. At that moment, I contemplated giving up everything,” she admitted.
However, her military training instilled in her a sense of resilience, pushing her to persevere. Despite minimal support, Yarigo is determined to honor her country’s name. Athletics in Benin suffers from a lack of organization and infrastructure, leaving Yarigo largely dependent on the efforts of her trainer, Claude Guillaume.
“Noélie relies entirely on what I can provide and what the Center offers her. Financially, she receives no assistance. The only support she has is the freedom granted by her military superiors,” confirmed her trainer.
Despite these challenges, Yarigo remains steadfast in her goals. She aims to podium at the African Championships, facing formidable competition from Kenyans, Ethiopians, Moroccans, and reigning African champion Francine Niyonsaba from Burundi.
“My objective is to reach the podium, regardless of the medal,” she asserted. Beyond that, Yarigo harbors aspirations of competing in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, inspired by runners like Kenyan Pamela Jelimo.
“When I see accomplished athletes like Pamela Jelimo, I ask myself, ‘Why not me?’ I believe I can put Benin on the map at the next Olympic Games,” she concluded, embodying a spirit of determination and hope for her nation.
