The silver medal for me was a sign that I would achieve a lot in athletics if I gave it time and work hard.

I used to play football, gymnastics. After that we got a teacher [who] introduced us to running. I started running and knowing that athletics might [get] me somewhere

My results at the 2012 African Championships had made me realise that I had the potential to become an elite sprinter. Things did not work out for me [at the University] and I decided to return to Cote d'Ivoire.

My talent was first discovered at a school athletics day a year after I arrived Norway. We had different events such as sprint, long jump and high jump. I was the fastest girl, and the guys were afraid to run against me, so, I ended up running by myself, but with the best times of all children. The teachers encouraged me after that to take up athletics.

I want to continue being in the athletics, and that is why I saw it wise to change from track to the marathon and road races.

I believe 5,000m is my race though I took long to realize and specialized in the 1,500m. Since venturing in the 5,000m, my performance has been growing and I believe the best is yet to come.

I will say that sports has been or was in my DNA. I started from my primary school days. But I got noticed while I was running for my secondary school during the school inter-house sports competition at Obieziama Secondary School in Imo State. One of the athletics coaches at the then Imo State Sports Council, Chief Leo Ozurumba, just came to me after my race. He said to me, ‘you will run for Imo State and for Nigeria. You have the talent and determination.’ He later took me to the Sports Council and that was when it all started. I was about 12 years then.

After that the tournament, I realised my potential and decided to the take the game more seriously. By then, cricket in Rwanda was still at a low level and we performed poorly but I was very happy to represent my country,

I have done my part on the track and now it is only right to try out a new challenge and the marathon discipline is inspiring enough.

Athletics is who I am today. Before, I didn’t love myself like that. With athletics, I see another part of me. It’s the only way to show what I can do.