Coumba Diagne

Coumba Diagne will carry the Olympic Torch. Here’s her story:

Coumba had a turbulent relationship with sport for a long time. As a child, she hated training under the hot sun in her beautiful region of Thiès, Senegal. As she got older, she began to appreciate the idea of pursuing sport, but her body couldn't keep up. What seemed insurmountable ultimately became fully achievable.

She was faced with a challenge that pushed her to mobilise resources she didn’t know she had. She started with 10-minute running sessions, establishing her own personal routine. Today, sport is an integral part of her life, providing her with a much-needed sense of mental and physical balance. Hiking has become her favourite activity. What she enjoys most of all is combining physical activity with her need to connect with nature.