Eugene- Burkinabe Hugues Fabrice Zango hopes to tackle the next World Championships as a doctor upon completion of his PhD studies in December
The Electrical Engineering PhD student at the University of Lille in France is his country's sole medallist at the World Championships in Oregon where he leaped a distance of 17.55m to take silver in the competitive men's Triple Jump.
No Burkinabe athlete had ever won a World Championships medal prior to 2019, but Zango ensured his football-crazy West African nation was on the podium for the umpteenth time.
“Next year I will be like 100% into athletics because right now, I am only 60 percent committed due to studies. I didn't see my Coach like for three months because I was writing my PhD exams. But when my PhD is done and dusted, I will try to envisage greater things for next year,” Zango commented.
Zango says his Coach Teddy Tamgho has been instrumental in his success story and brings to the team a wealth of experience.
“He (Coach) helped me a lot with how to prepare for World Championships and sometimes how to be in shape mentally and physically. He is my role model (Tamgho) alongside Christian Taylor,” he explains.
“Christian is great man which is why I wanted to beat him when he was still in shape but I have some work to do again to be able to achieve my level to 18 meters to be among the best.”
Zango reveals that the injury that he sustained in February impeded his progress. “The injury took two months to heal. I couldn't walk and that adversely affected my competition this year.”
“It made me delay my preparations for the World Championships, but I have really tried to manage my comeback, so I did a Season Best of 17.55. I feel that I have more in my legs. So, I will continue with Diamond Leagues and try to do my best performance. At least I can aim for the world record next year.”
At College it's not business as usual for Zango who reads books on a daily basis.
He wakes up at 7am in the morning goes straight to the laboratory. Then between 8am to 4pm, he embarks on studies and goes for training at 6pm. From 6pm to 9pm he is on the track trying to find newer limits in his field specialty.
Achievements
*Bronze medal –2020 OG Tokyo
*World Championships- Silver 2022 Oregon
*Bronze medal – 2019 Doha
*Continental Cup Silver - 2018 Ostrava
*African Championships Gold – Mauritius 2022
*African Championships Gold– 2018 Asaba
* African Championships-Silver - 2016 Durban
*Summer Universiade Silver -2015 Gwangju
*Summer Universiade Silver– 2017 Taipei
