Tenkodogo: At 55 years old, Anatole Gouba continues to carry the marathon flame high, ranked 29th at the Tenkodogo-Koupla Peace Marathon. Anatole Gouba, a former national marathon record holder, remains an emblematic figure of Burkinabe athletics. His journey is marked by passion, discipline, and resilience, forged through effort, conviction, and a deep attachment to peace.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Anatole Gouba was born in a context where access to school required long walks, leading him to discover running at an early age. He recalls, "My school was 8 km from the village. Every day, I did 16 km without knowing it." These daily journeys, combined with court games and daily work, built a natural endurance that became his sporting foundation.

By high school, Gouba was already making a name for himself as a runner, although without supervision. His sporting adventure intensified in Europe, where he discovered structured athletics. Joining the Cologne club in 1995, Gouba trained alongside seasoned athletes and realized his potential to break Burkina Faso's records. Determined, he embarked on marathon running, making history in November 1997 in Frankfurt with a time of 2 hours 37 minutes-a national benchmark for years.

For Gouba, the marathon is a life school. "The marathon has no pension, we accept everyone: the young, the old, the able-bodied, the blind... The main thing is to get to the end," he explains. At 55, he continues running, motivated by a rigorous lifestyle and the belief that exercise shields the body from chronic diseases. He notes, "A marathon runner who stops suddenly is more exposed than someone who has never run."

Preparing for marathons demands sacrifices: a controlled diet, nutritional supplements, long hours of running, and adapting to the Sahelian climate. Gouba sums up, "A marathon runner has no friends, no television. Every free minute should be used to add a few kilometres." He credits his family, particularly his wife, for their support, joking, "If your husband is a sorcerer, you have to be a magician."

Gouba holds a deep attachment to peace, the theme of the Tenkodogo-Koupla marathon. He is a pioneer of ultra-marathons on Burkinabe soil, recalling a symbolic act of running to encourage youth and value peace. He remarks, "Yesterday, I was crossing Burkina Faso on foot without fear. Today, even walking is becoming a challenge."

Criticism has often been more painful than physical injuries for Gouba. "In every area, there are blows. It was the criticism that tired us, not the pain," he explains. His strength lies in accepting difficulties, keeping calm, and understanding that "elsewhere, it's not easier."

At 55, Gouba continues to surprise. Recently obtaining a bachelor's degree in English, he is about to pursue a master's degree. He reflects, "This is the most significant moment of my career: health, vigor, and the ability to learn more. The best is yet to come."

From his village beginnings to European tracks, Anatole Gouba embodies perseverance and self-surpassing. His career, marked by effort and passion, makes him a natural ambassador of peace and a benchmark for young athletes. In Tenkodogo and beyond, he reminds us that the marathon, like life, is earned through courage, patience, and constancy.