Fatou Sowe is regarded by many, including Coach Sulayman Jobe as one of the best female athletes who would always be remembered for the services the young, promising and ambitious athlete continue to render towards the athletics in the country. Her potential is said to be the contributing factor to be named after Mariam Jones, one of the best sprinters in the world whom she described as one of her role models.

She was born in Wellingara and later moved to Ebo Town where she is currently residing with her parents: Ndey Touray and Omar Sowe, whom she said, serve as the main source of her inspiration.

She went further to commend them for what she referred to as their tireless efforts in making sure she concentrates on the game.

F. Sowe as she is widely known started practising athletics when she first represented Serrekunda West in the Primary School Competitions in 2003, before moving to Serrekunda Junior School, where she made her most anticipated first appearance in the inter school competition where she demonstrated a remarkable performance after coming from behind to be the winner of the race in the 200-meter distance, the performances which earned her the first award. The versatile athlete who is capable enough to take part in different events ranging from 100 metres, 200 metres, relay and so on, was one of the central nucleus of both Serrekunda Primary and Junior Schools, respectively. Her potential is said to be the leading factor for the successes registered by the Gambia Senior Secondary School.

F. Sowe further went on to establish herself as one of the best athletes during her stay in Gambia High School, after making a difficult decision to join them, following competitions from other senior schools that made all efforts to get hold onto one of the youngest junior athletes in The Gambia. She has been honoured with a leadership role when she was awarded the captaincy, as a result of the great role she played during her 3 year-stint in the school. During that time, F. Sowe led Gambia Senior Secondary School to its athletics championship award after winning all the relays, alongside her colleagues.

“After all, many schools were forcing me to go to their school but I decided to go to Gambia High School because I knew that I will establish myself in the school and thanked God I have done that,” F. Sowe told this reporter.

In 2008, she represented KMC in Naycof which took place in Farafenni where she played an influential part in KMC’s success during the period. F. Sowe also considered herself lucky after she occasionally represented the Gambia Athletics Association at the international athletics championships where she successfully achieved gold, silver and broonze medal successes in recent years, which gave her an automatic qualification to the world youth athletics championship in Milan, Italy. But that trip was not possible due to the financial constraints that continued to hit the Gambia National Athletics Association over the years.

F. Sowe was also part of the July 22nd athletics competition which was organised as part of the activities marking the 15 Anniversary of the July 22nd Revolution where she represented the Gambia Police Force in events, such as 100 metres and 200 metres, after winning all the relays, respectively. The young and talented athlete expressed her desire to stay at home in order to represent her country at the international athletics championship.

F. Sowe further expressed her desire to follow the footsteps of the Gambia National Athletics duo Fanny Sinuobi and Fatou Tyana, who has been at the centre of discussion after failing to return home shortly after representing the country at the world athletics championships in Berlin recently.