Main content

Cameroon's Triple Jump Queen

How motherhood inspired Francoise Mbango to two Olympic gold medals.

In 2004, the Cameroonian triple-jumper Francoise Mbango made headlines around the world when she competed in the Athens Olympics with her head shaved. Mbango wanted to show solidarity with her mother, who was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Mbango won a gold medal and went on to retain her title at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She talks to Ian Williams about how motherhood inspired her journey to the very top of world sport.

PHOTO: Francoise Mbango after her Olympic victory in 2004 (Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Oct 2021 18:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Sep 2021 09:50GMT
  • Thu 30 Sep 2021 23:50GMT
  • Sat 2 Oct 2021 17:50GMT
  • Sun 3 Oct 2021 18:50GMT

Olympic history

Olympic history

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

Sporting Witness Films

Sporting Witness Films

Watch sporting heroes tell their stories of astonishing achievement

Podcast