Burkina Faso flag bearer aiming to inspire younger generation

It was an elusive dream for Burkina Faso to have a taekwondo athlete compete at the Olympics, until Faysal Sawadogo decided he was going for a milestone.

“My goal was to achieve something big for this country and to be a motivation for all of these kids,” recalls the 2020 Tokyo Olympian, who is set to compete at the Chengdu FISU World University Games on Tuesday (August 1) in the men’s -80kg category. “Because there are many young people in Burkina Faso that lost themselves, but seeing me achieve something big, that can change a lot of things for them.”

It was the desire to motivate others that forced the young African star to push his limits.

“They need a model that they can follow, so they can see they can achieve something big, but also chase their dreams. So they say ‘yes, he did it, that can also be me’. I want to follow this path,” says the Grenoble Alpes University student who grew up in Burkina Faso and now studies in France, but trains in Germany.

Hard work and dedication led to securing him a spot at the postponed Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021.

“I just thought about all those times I was dreaming to be there, and it was a dream come true,” says Sawadogo, who was the last athlete to qualify for the Games.

However, his dreams were smashed away early in the Olympic tournament. He broke his arm during his first fight but refused to quit the competition.

“I fought, I gave my best. When I finished, I said I think something is wrong. They checked and the bone was even moving. I was so sad,” recalls the now 26-year-old.

As he was scheduled for the repechage in a bid to win a bronze medal, Sawadogo had a hard decision to make whether to compete or not. Eventually he decided to go for it.

“When I thought of all the hard work I’ve been doing for more than five years, to be there at the Olympics and not to fight, I just didn’t want to do it,” he says about facing the hardest time in his career. “Even with my broken arm, I decided I’ll give my best. I knew it would be hard, but I wanted to do it for all of the people in my country.”

He eventually didn’t succeed in his quest for the podium, which is one reason why, at next summer’s Olympics in Paris, the world no. 11 will be aiming for gold.

For that highest of achievements, Sawadogo will need to keep focused on the goal. It’s something he has learned from his father.

“He is a big model for me, big support. He was always there for me when I was young, but also my mum, they would always advise me,” he says with appreciation.

“He believed taekwondo can make you a good person,” he adds about his father, which is not surprising since he was also a taekwondo student athlete. ”It was helpful to him, so he thought it would be useful for me as well.”

Sawadogo started training for the sport he adores at the age of 6. After high school and two years of studies in his home country, he decided it was time to leave the continent. Just so that he could have better training conditions and a better chance to chase his dreams.

The journey has now brought him to China, where he will try to win a FISU Games gold medal.

“I’ve been training really hard for this, and I have been preparing for this. I know there are also good athletes but what’s most important for me is to give my best,” he says with confidence.

He had the pleasure of being a flag bearer for Burkina Faso at last Friday’s opening ceremony.

“I was really proud to be there and holding a flag for my country.”

Even living abroad, he returns to his country whenever he can.

“I feel like I have to give something to Burkina Faso, to do something for the people, such as training, teaching, motivating the kids. I want to feel like I’m doing something to impact the young generations.”

And he has no doubt where his heart belongs.

Written by Ana Brenčić, FISU Young Reporter