From student wrestler to PE teacher August 23, 2026
Some wrestlers left their mark on the arena with their exploits before reinventing themselves or retraining after their sporting career. The section “What happened to them?” » tells of their post-career life. Today, spotlight on Ibrahima Birame Djité, alias Gorgui-Étudiant, former wrestler who became Professor of physical and sports education (Eps) and regional technical director (Dtr) of the Dakar League.
Ibrahima Birame Djité, better known under the nickname Gorgui-Étudiant, has long attracted attention with his atypical profile. While he continued his studies, he also practiced strike wrestling. A double hat which earned him his nickname and allowed him to complete a course of nine fights, for six victories and three defeats.
His adventure in wrestling began while he was still at Ibou Diallo high school in Sédhiou. In 2010, he participated in a tournament with the Flag of the Mayor of Sédhiou. A competition during which he managed to distinguish himself. “There were several young hopefuls and I stood out from the crowd,” he remembers.
His school career began at Moricounda primary school, in Sédhiou. He continued at Cem Amadou Mapathé Diagne, where he obtained the Bfem, before joining the Ibou Diallo high school. After obtaining his baccalaureate, he headed to Dakar to continue his studies at Cheikh Anta Diop University (Ucad).
In 2011, while he was in his first year of geography, he took part in an inter-university tournament under the colors of Ucad. He had a good run and reached the final. “I made it to the final, which I unfortunately lost,” he confides.
The following year marked a turning point. Gorgui-Étudiant passes the entrance exam to the National Higher Institute of Popular Education and Sport (Inseps). It is in this establishment that he will truly structure his sporting and professional career.
“It was there that the former national technical director and professor at Inseps, Abdou Badji, detected me and registered me for the pre-selection of the national team so that I could train with them. It was from there that I started practicing strike wrestling. In the meantime, for two years, I practiced Olympic wrestling with the late Dtn Abdou Badji,” he explains.
In 2014, he took a new step by beginning his career in striking wrestling at the Songane Guèye wrestling school in Rufisque.
But his ambition is not limited to the arena speakers. Above all, he intends to build a professional future around sport and education. After six years of training at Inseps, he obtained his Certificate of Aptitude for Physical Education and Sports Teaching (Capeps), as well as a master’s degree in Sciences and Techniques of Physical and Sports Activities (Staps).
His teaching career began in Kédougou, precisely in Ninéfacha, where he worked for a year. He was then assigned to the Commune 1 high school in Kédougou, where he stayed for three years. Through the national movement, he then came to Rufisque, more precisely to the Matar Seck high school, where he spent three years, before being redeployed to the Rufisque modern high school.
“I am therefore in my eighth year of service as a PE teacher,” he explains.
Alongside his teaching profession, Gorgui-Étudiant continues to revolve around wrestling. Under the leadership of Malick Ngom, then president of the National Management Committee (Cng) of struggle, he was appointed supervisor and also became advisor to the president. An experience which allows him to put his technical and administrative knowledge to the service of organizing events.
This mission coincides with the period when the authorities had imposed an end to wrestling matches no later than 7 p.m. As supervisor, he had to ensure compliance with this directive and the smooth running of the demonstrations. “It was a good experience during this period,” he admits.
Today, Gorgui-Étudiant continues his reconversion in the world of wrestling. His experience and skills allowed him to access new responsibilities. He is now regional technical director (Dtr) of the Dakar League of the Senegalese Wrestling Federation (Fsl), a position to which he was appointed by the president of the League, Moustapha Guèye.
“My responsibilities consist of directing the technical policy of wrestling in the Dakar region, but also ensuring its development and, above all, the training of actors, in particular coaches and departmental technical directors,” he explains.
From the student passionate about wrestling to the PE teacher, through the wrestler, the supervisor and now the regional technical director, Gorgui-Étudiant has succeeded in his reconversion without ever moving away from the arena.
Abdoulaye DEMBELE
