Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith
Gonezie Marie Josée Dominique Ta Lou-Smith (née Ta Lou) (born 18 November 1988) is a Cote'd Ivoiresprinter competing in the 100 metres and 200 m. She finished fourth in the 100 metres and 200 metres finals at the 2016 Olympic Games, missing out on a medal in the 100m by seven-thousandths of a second (0.007). She then won silver medals in the 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2017 World Championships, the latter in the national record time of 22.08 seconds. Her 100 metres best is 10.72 seconds (2022), thus making her the African record holder.
Quotes
[edit]- Even if someone say, ‘you will not make it!’, just show them that you can make it because life is not about always giving up. It's about working hard, sacrifice, and making yourself available to push your body to achieve your dreams.
- I just want to enjoy every competition and not pressure myself with thoughts like, ‘Oh, I need to run because I need the money or something else.
- I am just here trying to beat my personal best, and the rest will come.
- I am trying to think of me a lot this year, take care of myself and enjoy the moment…So one more race in New York and then I am off finally for honeymoon.
- And the next day you see me smiling, you don't know what I'm going through because I tell myself, ‘People have other bigger problems than me.
- I have been [through] ups and downs in my career, but this year has been harder because I hard to work really hard to be here.
- I have been struggling after the Olympics. I didn't want to continue my season. But I did. It’s not always about winning, it's about not giving up, about giving your best every day, every time you pursue your dreams.
- Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith exclusive: Africa's greatest female sprinter feels 'blessed' despite 'tough year',16 September 2024,By Evelyn Watta and Grace Goulding
- I want to be the greatest sprinter in Africa.
- I want to leave a big legacy. Not only for Ivorian girls, but for all African girls. I want to show that they can do something big if they believe in themselves.
- My older brother did not want me to carry on with football, fearing that I would become a tomboy.
- When I started, my mother didn't want me to do it.
- And people around me said, 'You are from Africa, I don't think you will become someone. I want you to continue your studies, to work in an office'. But I felt it, because I like to run so much. This is my way.
- My results at the 2012 African Championships had made me realise that I had the potential to become an elite sprinter. Things did not work out for me [at the University] and I decided to return to Cote d'Ivoire.
- It gives me so much confidence. I didn’t know that doing what I’m doing could be an example for other people. You don’t need much to become a star.
- It’s nice to see people who want to take a picture with me, who want to become like me. But I tell them they should not want to become like me, rather greater than me.
- Running alongside those ladies, who achieved great things, was useful for me.
- Marie-Josée Ta Lou: Five things you should know about Africa’s top sprinting star,28 July 2021,
- Athletics is who I am today. Before, I didn’t love myself like that. With athletics, I see another part of me. It’s the only way to show what I can do.
- Young people sometimes like an easy life. But there are two things. Either you just want to do athletics or you want to leave a legacy. If you want to leave a legacy, you have to make sacrifices in your life.
- I wake up every morning and I am in good health, so I’m not going to complain about money.
- Sometimes I’m in doubt, but my coach reminds me that I can do something good. So I believe in myself.
- Rio gave me self-confidence, experience and motivation to return to training and work hard.
- Marie-Josée Ta Lou: “I run after my destiny”,08 May 2020,By Guillaume Depasse
