Auriol Dongmo: The rising star

Auriol Dongmo is gradually becoming a household name in Cameroon.

After a poor showing at the world athletics championship in China, Auriol Dongmo Mekemnan metamorphosed at the All African games in Brazzaville, winning a gold medal for Cameroon in the Shot Put event with a distance of 17.21m.

She broke her personal record obtained last month in World Championships in Pekin when she threw a distance of 16.85m.

From her humble beginnings at the Fenassco games in 2006 when she came third aged just 16, little did she know she will one day rise to the pinnacle of success. She was Cameroon champion three years later in 2009.

Her progression continued as she won gold in the shot put event at the African Games in 2011. She also competed in the discus throw event and emerged 5th.

She was elected the best Cameroonian sports woman in 2011 and in 2014, she won the gold medal at the African championship in Marrakech, Morocco. On August 9 2015, she won the Central African Championship in Yaounde. Given her youthful age and the fact that her performance is in the crescendo, Auriol Dongmo still stands a chance of winning more medals for Cameroon and making her country proud.