After a real obstacle course, Malian Marine Camara became the first boxer in the history of her country to qualify for the Olympic Games. The 29-year-old featherweight no longer believed it, however, after her defeat in the final of the last Olympic qualifying tournament in Thailand at the beginning of June. But she has just been drafted thanks to a universality place, awarded by the IOC, and will finally live her Olympic dream in Paris.
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“ At first I didn’t believe it ! » On the other end of the line, from Portugal where she trains, her smile is perceptible. Marine Camara can’t believe it: she is finally qualified for the Paris Olympic Games! She also became the very first Malian boxer in history to participate in the Olympics. However, the 29-year-old boxer had definitively given up on this dream: she was left with tears in her eyes, beaten at the gates of the Games. Falling on the last step of the last Olympic qualifying tournament, in Bangkok at the beginning of June. But that was before a phone call from the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Mali.
“ My committee informed me that there remained a small opportunity, which was what we call the universality place », explains the boxer. “ Since Mali only had one qualifier at that time (the men’s football team), the country was able to benefit from this solution. And given my recent results, particularly in Bangkok, I was selected to participate in the Paris Olympics in the under-57 category. kilos. »
In search of a first Olympic medal for Mali
A reward in the form of deliverance for Marine Camara, after a real obstacle course: following his silver medal at the African Games in Rabat in 2019, she begins to dream of Olympe. Having come close to qualifying for Tokyo in 2021, this wrestling fan, who also has a management degree from Paris-Dauphine University, has set Paris 2024 as her ultimate goal.
But during the World Championships in India in March 2023, she seriously injured her shoulder. After a major operation, and despite the mixed opinions of doctors, the athlete returned to the rings after a few months. After a failure at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Dakar in September 2023 and an administrative imbroglio at the TQO in Milan this winter, he only had the Bangkok tournament as his last hope. Her final defeat against the Indian Jaismine Lamboria could have marked her absence in Paris. But the International Olympic Committee finally decided to award it one of the nine universality places reserved for boxing.
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Cruel for @marine_fatou : the Olympic dream ends there. After 2 great successes, the boxer fell on the last step, beaten by the Indian Jaismine Lomboria in the 1/4 finals of the TQO in Bangkok (only the 4 semi-finalists are qualified for @Paris2024)@RFI pic.twitter.com/LeUohkiC6l
— Martin Guez (@Martin_Guez) June 2, 2024
“ I am convinced that I have a lucky star »
“ When I heard the news I didn’t sleep for two days ! Because it creates euphoria », she savors. “ There are many people who were able to follow me, including RFI. During all these months, you have seen all the ups and downs of preparation. For me, but also for all the supporters in Mali, it’s great ! »
His many Malian fans, who encourage him from a distance and send him numerous accessories in the colors of the country, are waiting for only one thing: a very first Olympic medal. In Paris this summer, Mali will take part in its fourteenth Games. And among the 250 athletes who will box in the French capital, Marine Camara hopes to make her way to the podiums. “ I am convinced that I have a lucky star. I am the first female boxer to qualify, so why not become the first athlete, male or female, to be an Olympic medalist? ? This is the “next step”. »
A next step almost at home. Marine Camara grew up in Val-de-Marne, a suburb of Paris, and will represent the country of her father, originally from the Kayes region. The young lady also learns Mandingo at Inalco and hopes to be able to shout ” Abora Malila ! » at Villepinte and Roland-Garros, the sites dedicated to boxing in Paris. See you on July 30 for his big Olympic debut!
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