My name is Irène Dimwaogdo TIENDREBEOGO, which means "Think about tomorrow".
I am a high jumper woman from Burkina Faso (African western country) .
I was born on the 27th Fébruary 1977, in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
I started the high jump discipline in 1993 after successful physical tests at the stadium by my school trainer, and 2 years later I was in Goteborg ( Sweden ), for my first World Championships. My fédération told me it was for an University championships and I was quite surprised when I saw all the track and field stars... this was the real thing : the World Championships. Despite my fear, I did my personal and national record : 1m80.
In 95, I won the gold medal during the African Championship held in Yaoundé (Cameroun). In 96, for the Olympics Games in Atlanta, I unfortunately didn't manage to get to the Final round.
In 97 I was injured and failed the qualification round during the World Championships in Athens, nevertheless I broke my record earlier in the season : 1m85.
In september 97 I moved to Monaco and joined my present coach Elio Locatelli.
In 98 my personal record was 1m90 and I won the French Indoor Championships for my team, the A.S. Monaco.
In January 99, I underwent a minor opération on the patellar tendon of my take off leg.
I would like to thank my surgeon, Pr Imbert in Saint Etienne (France) and all his staff.
The 1st of August 99, I won the French Outdoor Championships for my team, breaking my own record : 1m94.
Despite my injury on my take off leg's knee, I jumped 1m89 during the qualification of the Wolrd Championshisp in Sévilla. I missed 1m92 which would have allowed me to go to the Final round.
I finished my 99'season with a silver medal (1m85) during the African Games in Johannesburg (South Africa).
Year 2000, the Olympic Games in Sydney took place without me cause I have undergone a second knee opération.
My 2001's challenge : back to the top level !

click on me to see my by-year progress table

Contact me to : [email protected]

I would like to thank for their help, encouragement and advices :
Merlene Ottey, Mary Onyali, Sergey Bubka, Gian Alberto Capporale, Cheikh Touré ,
ma Famille, Christiane et Michel Augier et mes amis
My team A.S. Monaco
The Olympic Solidarity
My doctors : Jean Paul Imbert, Jean Paul Canova, Eric Buracchi, Patrick Coudert
Thanks Lord for everything you've done for me.

Version Française