PROFILE: Suwaibou Sanneh

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Born in Jarra Soma in the Lower River region of the Gambia, he attended Jarra Soma Primary School. He proceeded to Pakalinding Upper Basic School where he spent his middle school education. In 2004, he joined Gambia Senior Secondary school. There, his talents as a national athlete were discovered and with the help of his coaches, he represented his school during the Inter Secondary Schools athletics championships. He raised the flag of his school for the period he stayed with Gambia Senior Secondary School until 2007 when he graduated.

Whilst at school, he was also a national athlete competing for The Gambia at the junior category where he competed in many championships within the sub-region. His first international experience was earned during the 2006 Dakar Zone II championship in June. This athlete’s first outing earned him three gold medals, one in the 100 metres men, the other in the 200 metres men as well as the medley relay. He was then put under surveillance by the athletics authorities as his timing was under 11 seconds in the 100 metres whilst his 200 metres was a little above 21 seconds.

In July the same year, he represented the Gambia in Cote d’Ivoire in the 100 metres race. Unfortunately, he was trying to recover from his hamstring injury hence not hundred percent fit to compete. Despite his unimproved health condition, he finished 4th. He was joined in the 4 by 100 metres relay by his team mates Isaac Jones, Lamin Camara and Ebrima Ceesay to come back home with a gold medal.

In December 2006, he attended the ZANOCA games in Mali. He dropped in the 100 metres race coming out with 3rd position. He again won gold in the 4 by 100 metres relay with his team mates.

In the 2007 Sierra Leone Zone II, he won three silver medals in three events - 100 metres, 200 metres and the medley race.

In the same 2007, this athlete won gold medals in the 100 metres and the 4 by 100 metres races, and he came out with a silver medal in the 200 metres race. The Gambian team had to return home winning the championship. It was the Solidarity Games held in Guinea Bissau.

He was then introduced to Africa’s elite athletics when he competed for the Gambia during the All Africa Games held in Algeria in July last year. He competed in the 100 and 200 metres events. He scored his personal best during the African Games and 0.3 seconds away from equaling the current national record on 100 metres. He finished with a timing of 10.5 seconds whilst the Gambian turned Norwegian Jaysuma Saidy still has the record at 10.2 seconds. This young athlete qualified to the semi finals of the 100 metres but came out 4th hence not qualified for the final.

His last international outing was in Burkina Faso in August 2007 where he finished first in the first hits of the 200 metres and second in the second hits. He finished 4 in the final. 

Source: The Point