Hammer thrower Falana vows to rule Africa

 By Mishael Emmanuel

   

   

Gabon’s national hammer record holder, Kenza Falana, is certain that her time to rule the spotlight and make headlines is now.

It’s a medal within reach for the young Gabonese hammer thrower who was selected to represent her country at the CAA U-18/20 Championship, holding in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria.

The 18-year-old who broke into the international stage a year ago at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, added that she is looking to revive the spirit of unity, commitment and collaboration — to back rising athletes in Africa.

Speaking before silver-finish at the biennial championship, Falana said she was ready to rule the continent as soon as possible.

She said: “I think it finally my chance with what I’m doing this Championships. I’ve been thinking of it this past year, thinking it would be such an opportunity to travel to Nigeria and even win a gold medal,” Falana stated in an interview with First ZealMediaCast Blog.

The hammer thrower from the Université de Paris, Nanterre emphasized that she had no doubt about her capacity to perform.

 “I’m pretty optimistic because I’m currently ranked highest in Africa on the hammer throw list. I’ve had some training here and think I’m capable of winning the gold medal today,” she noted before clinching silver.

Falana, a multiple-time U18 and U20 champion with a World Athletics certified personal best of 57.50 meters, said her next goal is to break the African record.

 “I feel like I can even beat the African record like today and I’ve had some training here and I threw my hammer some 59 meters so with all the ambience and stuff I feel that I can even throw better distances.”

The girl from ‘the land of Bantu’, who spends her leisure time on artistic drawing said the her love for the sport and the thrill of winning fuels her.

“I’m mostly doing it for fun. I feel like the better I become, the more fun I’ll have.”

Falana who has a high chance rewriting the African record in hammer throw, put out kind words for athletics faithful back home and across the continent. She stressed that making one's presence felt in major competitions is not limited to early-starters in sports.

 “I want to make them proud I want to show them that even though you started sports a bit later than everyone else, you can still compete and win competitions such as the African championships,” he noted.

She concluded by giving her target for the next couple of years: “I think I will be able to compete at the 2028 Olympics and that’s my long term goal.”

Her powerful African sports story, amplifies what the continent but more especially Gabonese sports men and women —can achieve with the right motivation.

The young lady from Libreville is a finalists at the most elevated sporting stage on the big black continent, carrying the hopes, dreams and aspirations of her country and she is sure to make both her nation and Africa proud.