Boxing-France-born boxer chases Olympic dream with Ivory Coast

Sedia Sanogo, 33, captain of the Ivory Coast women's boxing team who dreams to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games, attends a practice session in Guerville, France, August 25, 2023. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) - Welterweight Sedia Sanogo grew up just a 20-minute drive from the arena hosting the Paris 2024 boxing tournament, but she has chosen to chase her Olympic dream under the flag of Ivory Coast, the country of her parents.

"When I watched the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, there were many people from many countries, including my (former) teammates from the French team, but Ivory Coast was not represented," Sanogo, 33, told Reuters. "I asked myself: Where are they?"