Ep 29: Africa Olympians special- Gambia's sprinter Bass, Benin's rower Hinkati, & Malawi judoka Boniface

This week, Africa Calling podcast brings you our African Olympians special from our correspondents on the African continent. From Gambia, we hear about top sprinter Gina Bass and her struggle to get to this year's Tokyo Olympic Games. In Malawi, we take a look at judoka Harriet Boniface and her quest for a medal; and from Benin, Olympic rower Privel Hinkati speaks about the upward battle to make it to the Games and have Beninese recognize rowing as a sport.

This week's podcast features three African Olympians and their quest to get to the games. Gambia correspondent Sally Jeng speaks to star sprinter Gina Bass, who beat out the rest of her competition to get to Tokyo. Also featured are Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Badjie, Committee President Alhagie Dodou Capi, and Gambia team captain Adama Jammeh, the athlete representative at the National Olympic Committee.

Foumilayo Assanvi, Africa Calling's correspondent in Benin, spoke to Olympian rower Privel Hinkati about trying to inform Beninese about a 'non-typical' sport in the West African country. He also spoke with Benin Rowing Federation President David Gbadamassi, and Hinkati fan and sports trainer David Talon.

In Malawi, correspondent Charles Pensulo spoke to judoka Harriet Boniface about how judo isn't just a man's sport, as well as Osbourne Banda, the general secretary of the Judo Association of Malawi.

Music in this episode is the inspirational "Alani" by the late Wes Madiko with DJ Robin Schultz, as selected by music maven Alison Hird.

Best of luck to all our African olympians out there in Japan!

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Africa Calling is produced by Radio France Internationale. Editor and host, Laura-Angela Bagnetto, sound editing by Erwan Rome and Nicolas Doreau.