Highlights
- Cyréna Samba-Mayela’s parents, both former athletes of Congolese origin, provided her with a strong athletic foundation and encouraged her to explore various sports before focusing on hurdling.
- Her parents have been crucial pillars of support throughout Samba-Mayela’s career, from celebrating her victories to helping her overcome setbacks like the Tokyo Olympics injury disappointment.
- Samba-Mayela’s parents emphasized the importance of education alongside athletics, supporting her pursuit of architecture and interior design studies while training, contributing to her well-rounded development as an athlete and individual.
Behind every great athlete stands a support system that nurtures their talent and fuels their dreams.
For French hurdling sensation Cyréna Samba-Mayela, that foundation begins with her parents, whose influence has been instrumental in shaping her remarkable journey to athletic stardom.
Born on October 31, 2000, in Champigny-sur-Marne, a suburb of Paris, Cyréna grew up in a household where sports were not just a pastime but a way of life.
Her parents, both of Congolese origin, were former athletes themselves.
This athletic lineage provided Cyréna with a unique advantage from the very beginning.
The Samba-Mayela household resonated with the spirit of competition and the value of physical discipline.
Cyréna’s parents recognized their daughter’s potential early on and encouraged her to explore various sports.
Before settling on athletics, young Cyréna tried her hand at judo, basketball, gymnastics, and even ice skating.
This diverse sporting background would later prove invaluable in her hurdling career, contributing to her exceptional coordination and agility.
At the age of 15, Cyréna’s parents made a decision that would alter the course of her life.
They encouraged her to take up athletics, steering her towards a path that would eventually lead to world championships and Olympic glory.
Their own experiences as athletes likely gave them insight into the potential they saw in their daughter.
The support of Cyréna’s parents extends far beyond mere encouragement.
They have been her unwavering cheerleaders through both triumphs and setbacks.
When Cyréna suffered the heartbreak of missing her Olympic debut in Tokyo due to a last-minute injury, her family’s support proved crucial.
In the aftermath of that disappointment, it was to her parents that Cyréna turned, drawing strength from their understanding and encouragement.
Their influence is evident in Cyréna’s resilience and determination.
After winning gold at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, one of Cyréna’s first calls was to her family back home in Champigny-sur-Marne.
“They cried,” Samba-Mayela recounted. “They remembered all the bad things I went through, and they were really proud of me.”
This moment encapsulates her parents’ deep emotional investment in her career.
The Samba-Mayela parents have also instilled in their daughters the importance of education alongside athletic pursuits.
While training intensively at INSEP, the French Institute of Sport, Exercise and Performance, Cyréna simultaneously pursued studies in architecture and interior design.
This balance of academic and athletic ambitions speaks to the well-rounded upbringing her parents have provided.
As Cyréna’s career progressed, her parents supported her decisions, including her recent move to Orlando, Florida, to train alongside Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.
This willingness to let their daughter spread her wings demonstrates their trust in her judgment and their commitment to her professional growth.
The story of Cyréna Samba-Mayela’s rise in the world of athletics is inseparable from the story of her parents.
Their athletic background, unwavering support, and guidance have been instrumental in shaping not just an athlete but a well-rounded individual poised for success both on and off the track.
As Cyréna continues to break records and chase her Olympic dreams, her parents remain the unsung heroes, the bedrock upon which a champion is built.
Just So You Know
- Before focusing on hurdling, Samba-Mayela engaged in a variety of sports including judo, basketball, gymnastics, and ice skating, which likely contributed to her exceptional coordination and agility in hurdling.
- She plays the guitar and piano, and enjoys drawing and painting with a focus on realism. She also has an interest in manga and Japanese culture.
- Samba-Mayela speaks both English and French, showcasing her linguistic abilities alongside her athletic talents.
- She is the third of seven children in her family, indicating she comes from a large household
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