Gambiaj.Com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – As The Gambia prepares for its 11th Olympic appearance in Paris 2024, the nation’s athletes and officials remain dedicated to their pursuit of excellence and the dream of securing their first Olympic medal. With a blend of seasoned athletes and promising newcomers, the nation hopes to achieve a historic milestone in the City of Light.

Leading the team for their third straight Olympics are Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye and Faye Njie, who aim to create history for Team Gambia. Their experience and determination provide a solid foundation for the team’s aspirations.

Gambia’s hopes are also high with Alassan Ann, a Minnesota-based taekwondo athlete, set to represent his country of birth. Ann’s journey from Gambia to the United States, where his family moved when he was a child, adds a compelling narrative to his participation.

The Gambia’s Olympic journey began at the 1984 Summer Games of the XXIII Olympiad in Los Angeles. Since then, athletes representing the small West African nation have continued to participate in the Summer Games, primarily competing in athletics. However, the country has yet to make its debut in the Winter Games, and no Gambian athlete has won an Olympic medal.

At the most recent Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, The Gambia was represented by four athletes. Among them, sprinter Gina Bass stood out by making it to the quarterfinals of the women’s 100 meters. The other Gambian competitors included two more athletes in athletics, one in judo, and one in swimming.

For the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, six of the seven Gambian athletes have already arrived; the seventh, taekwondo star Alasan Ann, is anticipated to follow shortly. With four athletes competing, this is the largest Olympic squad from The Gambia ever.

Since The Gambia has never taken home an Olympic medal, many are curious as to whether they will this year. The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), led by delegation president Ms. Beatrice Allen and secretary general Mr. Yorro Njie, is dedicated to supporting the athletes. Ms. Allen, an IOC member from 2006 to 2020 and an honorary member since 2021, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team.