Burkina Faso/ World Champion triple jumper Hugues Fabrice Zango announces retirement
Burkina Faso’s reigning triple jump world champion, Hugues Fabrice Zango, has officially ended his elite sporting career. The athlete made the announcement on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, following an audience with Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo and the Minister of Sports, Youth, and Employment, Roland Somda.
Zango explained that the decision had been carefully considered: “This choice was not easy, but it was necessary. As a public figure, I wanted to officially inform the authorities, because we belong to the people and therefore to the Burkinabe state.”
The Prime Minister praised the athlete’s exceptional career, highlighting the positive impact of his performances on Burkina Faso’s global image and encouraged him to share his knowledge to help train the next generation.
Hugues Fabrice Zango expressed his deep gratitude to the nation for its unwavering support throughout his career and affirmed his intention to remain active in sports, primarily through his foundation dedicated to promoting young talent and social development.
His career, which began in 2011, concludes with a remarkable series of achievements: two World Championship titles, a World Championship silver medal, two World Championship bronzes, an Olympic medal won in Tokyo in 2021, three African titles, and victories at the Francophonie Games and the African Games.
In total, he participated in approximately sixty competitions, claimed thirty victories, and stood on the podium forty-four times.
Alongside his athletic feats, Zango distinguished himself academically, earning a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 2023. “It’s unique in the history of athletics: to be both a doctor and a world champion. It is an honor for me and for Burkina Faso,” he stated. With his departure, Burkina Faso loses a top competitor but gains a mentor and a passionate ambassador for development through sport.
Emile YEMPABE
