Born in southern Senegal in 1955, Ankiling Diabone went to the National Centre for Physical and Sports Education (CNEPS) in the city of Thiès in 1975, where he became a master of judo. Three months later Diabone was selected to compete in a tournament in Dakar, which he won. He then spent the next 15 years on the Senegalese national judo team, competing in competitions across the world. He won six medals at the African Championships, including four consecutive golds in the -86 kg category between 1982 and 1989. Diabone also competed at two World Championships (1981, 1987), and the Olympics in Moskva and Seoul. Back in Senegal he became a nine-time national champion from 1979 to 1990. He later worked as a coach of the Senegal national team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before moving to France in 1998.
Senegal