Ivory Coast, formally known as La Côte d’Ivoire enters in the history on August 20, 2016 with its first Olympic gold medal in Taekwondo and in any sport with Cheick Sallah Cissé at the 2016 Games of Rio de Janeiro.

Cissé is a 23 year old Ivorian who competed in the men’s 80 kg in Brazil against Britani’s Lutalo Muhammad and won 8 to 6 at the last second. The British didn’t demerit, he received the silver medal.

(Picture from Abidjan.Net)

Before the 2016 Olympic, Cheick Cissé won several medals in Europe and Africa. To name a few, he won gold at the 2015 African Games held in Congo Brazzaville in the same category; men’s 80 kg. He also performed well in Russia and Turkey where he won gold and silver respectively in 2015 Grand Prix competition games. From all types of competitions Cissé entered, his known medals are to this date, seven gold, two bronze, and four silver medals. Impressive! Congratulations Cissé. You deserve this win too.

The athlete dedicated his gold medal to the President of Ivory Coast, Son Excellence Monsieur Alassane Dramane Ouattara, his father, his mother, his coaches, and his fans.

Ivory Coast now has its first Olympic gold medal in the sport after the silver it won in 1984 in men’s 400 meters by Gabriel Tiacoh in Los Angeles and the bronze medal won by the teammate of Cissé, Ruth Gbabgi for women’s Taekwondo 67kg, in 2016.

Cissé is a triple African Champion in Taekwondo and now he’s an Olympic winner writing the name of the Ivory Coast in Gold. Cheick Sallah Cissé, your country says, ‘Thank You!’ .

(Picture from Abidjan.Net)

P.S. Read about African Olympians who deserve special mention as well here.