Olympic heptathlete found safe after two-week disappearance

The two-time Olympic heptathlete Odile Ahouanwanou of Benin has returned home "safe and sound" after missing for 17 days.

Olympic heptathlete Odile Ahouanwanou of Benin has been found safe in France after disappearing for two weeks. The 33-year-old was last seen on Sept. 10, after dropping her child off at a daycare center in Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France.

According to a report from Le Parisien, Ahouanwanou returned home on the night of Sept. 26. However, the details surrounding her disappearance remain unclear and police are continuing to investigate.

Ahouanwanou’s sudden disappearance was a mystery in France and Benin, where she is a prominent figure in the sport of track and field. She is a double gold medalist at the African Championships and the Beninese national record holder in the heptathlon.

On Sept. 18, Ahouanwanou was placed on the wanted persons list. Investigators looked into her lifestyle habits, interviewed members of her inner circle, and reviewed data from her mobile phone and bank accounts. French police are still considering the possibility of a voluntary disappearance. The investigation is still ongoing.

Despite intensive searches and public appeals, the exact reason behind her disappearance has not yet been disclosed. 

Ahouanwanou placed 15th in the heptathlon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and finished eighth at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. Her best score of 6,274 points is the national record for Benin.

posted Friday September 27th
by Marley Dickinson