The Gambia at the
2012 Summer Olympics
Flag of the Gambia
IOC codeGAM
NOCGambia National Olympic Committee
Websitewww.gnoc.gm
in London
Competitors2 in 1 sport
Flag bearer Suwaibou Sanneh
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

The Gambia competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, which was held from 27 July to 12 August 2012. The country's participation at London marked its eighth appearance in the Summer Olympics since its début at the 1984 Summer Olympics. The delegation included two athletes, Suwaibou Sanneh and Saruba Colley, the former had qualified by setting a qualifying time that fell within the required standard and the latter entered via a wildcard place. Sanneh was selected as the flag bearer for both the opening and closing ceremonies. Sanneh became the first Gambian athlete to advance into the semi-finals of the men's 100 metres, while Colley was eliminated after the quarter-final stages of the Women's 100 metres.

Background

The Gambia participated in eight Summer Olympic Games between its début at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.[1] No Gambian athlete has ever won a medal at the Olympics.[1] The Gambia participated in the London Summer Olympics from 27 July to 12 August 2012.[2] The Gambia National Olympic Committee (NOC) selected sprinters Suwaibou Sanneh in the men's 100 metres and Saruba Colley in the women's 100 metres.[2] Sanneh was the flag bearer for both the opening and closing ceremonies.[3][4] The athletes were due to train in York at various facilities in the city, including the Huntingdon athletics stadium and the University of York but withdrew due to financial issues.[5] Along with the two athletes, a delegation led by the Gambia National Olympic Committee president Momodou Demba attended the London Games. The delegation consisted of Beatrice Allen, the vice-president, secretary general Peter Prom and treasurer Ousman Wadda.[6]

Athletics

Suwaibou Sanneh was the only male athlete representing The Gambia at the London Olympics. He previously competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.[7] Sanneh qualified for the London Olympics by securing the required qualifying time in the 'B' standard in an event in Jamaica.[8] He competed in the men's 100 metres race on 4 August in the third heat of the quarter-finals, finishing fifth out of eight athletes with a time of 10.21 seconds.[9] Sanneh became the first Gambian athlete to qualify for the semi-finals of the event, and the second time a competitor from the country advanced into the semi-finals of any Olympic event.[10] In the semi-finals on 5 August, Sanneh achieved a Gambian national record of 10.18 seconds, but did not advance to the final after finishing eighth (and last) in her heat.[11]

The London Olympic Stadium, where Sanneh and Colley competed in athletics events

Competing at her first Summer Olympics, Saruba Colley qualified for the London Games as a wildcard,[12] as her best time for the 100 metres event, 12.37 seconds, set in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, was nearly one second slower than the "B" qualifying standard.[13][14][15] She competed in the preliminary round on 3 August and was drawn in the fourth heat. Colley finished second with a time of 12.21 seconds, behind heat winner Toea Wisil from Papua New Guinea (11.60 seconds), advancing her to the quarter-finals.[16] Colley was placed in heat three along with seven other athletes. She posted a time of 12.06 seconds,[17] finishing eighth with a new national record.[18] She finished 55th out of 56 athletes overall and did not qualify for the later rounds.[17]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Suwaibou Sanneh 100 m Bye 10.21 5 q[10][9] 10.18 NR 8 did not advance[11]
Women
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Saruba Colley 100 m 12.21 2 Q[16] 12.06 NR[18] 8[17] did not advance[17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Gambia". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Gambia at the 2012 London Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Olympic flag bearers". United Press International. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2016 – via General OneFile.
  4. ↑ "London 2012 Closing Ceremony – Flag Bearers" (PDF). Olympic.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Johnston, Neil (26 July 2012). "Olympic teams cancel York training base". Nouse. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Baboucarr, Camara (14 August 2012). "Gambia Delegation Reflects On London 2012 Olympics". The Daily Observer. Africa News Service. Retrieved 16 October 2016 – via General OneFile.
  7. ↑ Camara, Baboucarr (26 July 2012). "London 2012: Suwaibou Sanneh raring to go". The Point. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Camara, Baboucarr (6 December 2011). "Gambia: Suwaibou Sanneh Qualifies for London 2012 Olympics". The Daily Observer. AllAfrica. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  9. 1 2 ""IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2012 – Men – 100 meters – Heats – Results". IAAF. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  10. 1 2 Bah, Abdoulie (4 August 2012). "Gambian sprinter Suwaibou Sanneh makes Olympic history". AIPS Media. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Olympics-Men's athletics 100m semi-finals – results". Reuters. 5 August 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  12. ↑ Camara, Baboucarr (3 August 2012). "Gambia: Duo Set for Olympic Debut". The Daily Observer. AllAfrica. Retrieved 15 October 2016 – via General OneFile.
  13. ↑ "London 2012 Olympics: Athletics qualification". The Daily Telegraph. 15 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "Games of the XXX Olympiad – London 2012 – Entry Standards" (PDF). IAAF. April 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Saruba Colley – Athlete Profile". IAAF. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  16. 1 2 "2012 Summer Olympics – Results – Women's 100". ESPN. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Track and Field / Womenʼs 100m". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  18. 1 2 Camara, Baboucarr (6 August 2012). "History-making Suwaibou Sanneh into 100m semis". The Point. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
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