Young swimmer Bunturabie Jalloh of Sierra Leone recently participated in Olympics in Brazil representing her country. She was selected to captain the team in the sporting event. Jalloh has been speaking to a freelance journalist in Sierra Leone, Mohamed Gandoh Jalloh about her sporting career so far.
Bunturabie Jalloh, it’s good to have you on “Tok Bot Salone”. First off I would like to talk to you about your life and a bit of your journey to the recent Olympic games in Brazil, especially for a young female that came from a country where opportunities for young girls is very limited. Can you take us through your life and how you were able to achieve these goals?
Miss Jalloh: My name is, Bunturabie Jalloh I’m 18yrs old. I came from a family of sport: my grandfather was a football coach for St Edwards; and my sister was playing football at local level in Germany, my mum was one of the first basketball coaches in Sierra Leone. I discovered my interest in sport at an early age and when my mother found out that I was interested in sport, she and the rest of my family urged me on and that’s how they kept me going forward every day.
Your grandfather, mother and sister were all doing something different from swimming. Why and how did you end up into swimming?
Miss Jalloh: First time I came to Freetown I was staying with one of my mum`s friend at Aberdeen and seeing the water and everything was all new to me because half of my life I stayed in Bo. I always wanted to try the water. I was not having such opportunities. The national swimming team coach went to Anne Walsh Memorial School in search of swimmers and I thought it was the best opportunity for me to learn how to swim. I never thought I would take it as a career. I just wanted to learn how to swim for fun and professional skills.
As a female and girl who came from one of the tribes that sees girls or women only as housewives, how easy was it for you to break the wall/barrier and change that narrative?
Miss Jalloh: It was an easy job because I grew up with my mom as a single parent and she’s a Christian and she had involved in sport before so it wasn’t a big deal.
How many competitions had you represented Sierra Leone in your career?
Miss Jalloh: My first international competition I was hoping it would be somewhere in Africa but it was at the World Championship Games in Russia, and I had gone to the All African Games in Congo and last year in May we went for the Final Zone Two in Senegal and then followed by the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. In total four but I didn’t compete in Senegal because of injury.
Your first major competition ever was outside of Africa and in a country with a different temperature and a different atmosphere, tells us your experiences there.
Miss Jalloh: I was sick during my travel and it was a challenge getting used to the weather, the food and also trying to be in good spirit for international games.
Did you qualify from the event that you took part in Russia?
Miss Jalloh: Can’t say I qualified and I took part in 50m freestyle, with the impression of my performance as a first timer, we were the first to qualify for the Olympic Games in Brazil.
Was the competition sponsored by the government of Sierra Leone?
Miss Jalloh: I don’t know whether the government paid for anything but all I know is that I paid for my travel expenses.
The dream of every athlete is to participate in the Olympics Games. You did not only represented Sierra Leone but you were also the captain for the team. How was it for you, considering both your participation and your role as a team captain?
Miss Jalloh: I won’t say I was scared. When I started swimming as a professional career I never thought I would compete in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. What made me proud as well was being a captain of the team that represented my country in the Olympics. Even though there were highly decorated Olympians during the event but I just think that we’re all champions.
How does it feel like to be the team captain in the Olympics?
Miss Jalloh: I was at the SLBC Studios when the announcement was made. I almost cried. There were more experienced people than I but they choose me so that’s a good feeling.
What are some of the events you took part in during the Olympics Games in Rio?
Miss Jalloh: I took part in the 50m freestyle Sprint.
Did you qualified (qualify) from that event?
Miss Jalloh: I didn’t qualify but I got another record as the fastest improver in the Olympics because of my previous participation in Russia which was 54 Seconds and then 39 seconds in Rio Olympics
What was your biggest challenge in the Rio Olympics Games?
Miss Jalloh: My biggest challenge was the electronic at the starting block. It was different from what I was used to. Also we couldn’t use the equipment in the gym, everything was different. In Sierra Leone everything is mostly cement.
Now that the Rio Olympics Games are over, what’s your hope for the future?
Miss Jalloh: I have so many objectives. I took my final high school exams [WASSCE] last year and I want to study Sport Medicine because there are no Sport Doctors in Sierra Leone. I want to do more training ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Japan, which will be quite different from the previous ones). We hope to compete among other countries to win Medals.
What are the major challenges do you think is affecting the sporting activities/sector in Sierra Leone?
Miss Jalon: There are so many things affecting our team: one thing I suggest the government should do is to pick out all promising athletes and send them to camp when we go for competitions, all other major athletes are coming from camps. Like it’s done in Ivory Coast, Senegal and Ghana.
Secondly, training facilities are not up to standards (standard) in Sierra Leone. For instance our pool, the titles, coloured water. Also, Sierra Leoneans often look down on our athletes, more especially parents like when Children will often express their interest in sports to their parents and often parents will discourage them saying “ Sport nor beteh na salone.” That mentality is affecting all sporting activities. Sometimes we don’t blame the parent because that’s the reality on the ground but we should not allow that reality to affect us).
Funding is another major problem; all their focus is on football. Journalist too should help to showcase or expose the talents of athletes in Sierra Leone and help boast the discipline in Sierra Leone.
You being a role model; you participated in major international competitions including the Olympic Games; how can you help changed the narratives or mind-set and culture of Sierra Leoneans especially parent to allow and encourage their children in sporting activities reference to girl child?
Miss Jalloh: Parent should allow their children who are interested in sport to follow their passion. For instance, imagine if an athlete won a gold medal; the tourism shall improve, it will create positive global image. Parents should support their children because it will take Sierra Leone a long way. We should help develop Sierra Leone in all aspects including sports.
Well Bunturabie, thank you so much for being with us. It’s an honour to have you on “Tok Bot Salone”. We wish you the very best in both your academic life and professional career. We hope to have you again in the future. Thank you.
Interviewer: Mohamed Gandoh Jalloh
