Senegal’s Edmond Sanka said becoming a Paracanoe paddler “saved his life” as he bids to make history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Sanka marked his Paralympic debut on Friday with a strong performance in the heats of the men’s KL3.
His appearance is an historic moment for Senegal who had never previously been represented in Paracanoe at the Games, but Sanka insists he is not in Paris to simply make up the numbers.
Sanka finished fourth at the International Canoe Federation Paracanoe World Championships in May after crossing the finish line in 40.54.
His time was just 0.14 off securing bronze and 0.37 off Spain’s gold medallist Juan Antonio Valle, raising the Senegalese paddler’s hopes of winning a medal at Paris 2024.
“I am feeling great and my health is good,” said Sanka.
“I am looking forward to it.
“I am thinking all the time about getting a medal to bring back to Senegal.
“I did a very good race to get fourth place in Szeged.
“The first five athletes were very, very close.
“In my head, I’m thinking now I feel it is possible to touch the medal.”
View this post on Instagram
Should Sanka win a medal at the Paralympics, it would not only be a first for Senegal but a first for Africa as well.
Sanka’s Paracanoe journey started in 2009 – two years after his world was turned upside down by a serious injury.
Back in 2007, Sanka was in the Senegalese Army and was standing guard when a truck knocked over the entrance gate to the military camp, crushing his legs.
“I had an injury to both of my legs,” said Sanka.
“They were able to save one but not the other so they cut it off.”
Sanka, a former boxer, spent one and a half years in hospital undergoing treatment before being introduced to kayaking.
“Somebody came to see me and explained that it would be easier to practice kayaking so when I came out of hospital I came to the club in Dakar to watch the competition so I thought why not,” said Sanka.
“I tried it and it was okay so I went for theacompetition.
“I was last in the race but a year after I became the African champion in 2009.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen to me as my life was in the army and I was young.
“I needed time to think about it and after I got into paddling, all of this went out of my head.
“I saw an opportunity to be somebody.
“When you are disabled in the army, you can’t go with the others, you are on the side.
“Now with the kayak, I am not.
“I am thankful to the ICF to help me have boats and have the opportunity to do training.
View this post on Instagram
“I don’t want to stop it, I want to go to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 and I hope to have the continued support from the ICF to be able to do this.”
Sanka has been training at the ASL Canoe Kayak Grand Arras in Saint-
Laurent-Blangy in the north of France since June 2023.
He is coached by Virginie Bayle and Gregory Demory.
“It is very important to him to represent Senegal,” said Demory.
“He is thinking that he wants to get a medal not only for him but for his country and other disabled people in Senegal.
“When you are disabled in Senegal, there is no consideration, you are pushed aside and you asking for money in the road.
“He wants to show to the other disabled that you are disabled but you can be somebody.
“He is not on the street and it saved his life.
“When he arrived in France last year everybody was speaking about Paris 2024.
“It was a dream for him.
“We have two athletes from Senegal, with Combe Seck as well.
“She is training with me at the same club.
“She got the qualification (for Canoe Sprint) before him and he said congratulations.
“He didn’t say I am not qualified so I will get it in May.
“He was not so happy about the qualification in May as he got fourth place and he wanted the medal. That’s his target.”
Demory said he expects Sanka to receive plenty of backing from the French fans as he looks to etch his name in the history books.
“When he trains at the club all the people know him,” said Demory.
“On Saturday, two buses of supporters will come from the north of France just to support him.”
Paracanoe schedule and results
Related links
