Manirou Dembélé, the man in the shadow of Saly Sarr’s success
Behind Saly Sarr’s podiums, there is a team. And at the heart of it, a discreet but central man: Manirou Dembélé, athletes’ agent recognized by World Athletics, who structures and supports the career of the Senegalese triple jumper towards the biggest international milestones.
The Senegalese triple jump specialist has had a successful year. The highlight was his victory in the Diamond League on September 4 in Brussels, with a jump of 14.96 m. An unprecedented performance for Senegal, the fruit of the efforts of the athlete, but also of the team around him. Within this, a former athlete who became a career architect occupies a special place.
Before becoming an agent, Manirou Dembélé was a high-level athlete. A high jump specialist, he has worn the colors of the Senegal national team, but also those of Dial Diop and As Douanes. Retrained in sports management, he today represents several figures of Senegalese athletics, including Cheikh Tidiane Diouf, Louis François Mendy and, above all, Saly Sarr.
Registered in the World Athletics directory of athlete representatives, it acts as the interface between the athlete, the coach, the Federation, competition organizers and partners. His credo: build a career, and not just manage competitions. For him, being an agent is not limited to “representing” an athlete. It’s about building over time. With Saly Sarr and his trainer, Grégory Louis Occin, he defines the objectives, establishes a schedule consistent with the preparation and ensures the balance between training, competitions, recovery and travel. “A high-level season is being prepared with a lot of anticipation,” he sums up.
2026, a season designed for the very high level…
The 2026 season was built around a clear ambition, that of confronting Saly Sarr with the world’s best triple jump specialists. Result: a historic year. The first Senegalese to win in the Diamond League in the discipline, she won the final ranking of the circuit. Bronze medalist at the World Indoor Championships, she raised the national record to 15.08 m in August, at the Silesian meeting, before being crowned champion of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, on September 13 in Budapest, with 15.06 m. Behind these successes, Dembélé recalls a less visible reality: the cost of very high level. Leading competitions, training courses abroad, regular travel, appropriate medical monitoring and recovery: the bill is heavy. “The first difficulty is financing,” he explains. Tickets, visas, accommodation, local transport, sometimes readjusted schedule… everything must be organized, without sacrificing any medical monitoring or recovery.
In this context, the partnership signed on September 28, 2026 between Sonatel (Orange Senegal) and Saly Sarr constitutes a major step. The agreement aims to support the champion in the continuation of her international career, particularly with a view to the 2027 World Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. It must help finance part of her preparation: courses, travel, team monitoring and training conditions.
For Dembélé, this partnership is also a strong signal. “The high level requires serenity. When an athlete constantly has to worry about logistics, travel or financing, it becomes an additional pressure,” he emphasizes.
The next deadlines have already been mapped out. The 2027 World Championships in Beijing are among the priorities, with the ambition of winning a medal there. In the longer term, the major objective remains the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. To achieve this, Dembélé intends to continue structuring Saly Sarr’s career.
A relationship based on trust
Beyond the administrative and financial aspects, the role of the manager is based on a relationship of trust. Dembélé accompanies Saly Sarr in moments of success as well as in more difficult periods, ensuring that he preserves his balance and maintains consistency between his ambitions and the means available. A relationship that allows you to manage pressure, make the right decisions for the future and stay focused on the objectives set with the coach.
A former athlete, Dembélé also takes a global look at Senegalese sport. He calls for strengthening the detection and support of young talents: better infrastructure, more competitions, adapted internships, regular medical and scientific monitoring, professional career support. “My experience with several athletes shows me one thing: talent is essential, but it is not enough,” he says.
Behind Saly Sarr’s records, medals and trophies, there is collective work. Manirou Dembélé is one of the essential players. In the shadows, he helps build the champion’s ambition, secure her career and prepare the next pages of her sporting history, from the 2027 World Championships to the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
By Fama NDIAYE
