Ditaji Kambundji

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Ditaji Kambundji
Ditaji Kambundji 2023 cropped.jpg
Kambundji as a medalist of the 2023 European Indoor Championships
Personal information
Born (2002-05-20) 20 May 2002 (age 22)
Bern, Switzerland [1]
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) [2]
Weight57 kg (126 lb) [2]
Sport
Country Switzerland
Sport Athletics
Event 100 metres hurdles
ClubSTB Leichtathletik
Coached byFlorian Clivaz (2022— )
Adrian Rothenbühler (2017—2022) [3]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)60 m hurdles: 7.81 (St. Gallen 2023) NR
100 m hurdles: 12.40 (Rome 2024) NR
Medal record

Ditaji Kambundji (born 20 May 2002) [4] is a Swiss athlete specialising in the sprint hurdles. She won the bronze medal in the 100 metres hurdles at the 2022 European Championships and bronze for the 60 metres hurdles at the 2023 European Indoor Championships.

Contents

Kambundji was the 100 m hurdles 2021 European under-20 champion and 2023 European U23 champion. She competed in the event at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021. [5] She is the Swiss indoor record holder for the 60 m hurdles and outdoor 100 m hurdles. She is also a six-time national champion.

Early life and family

Ditaji Kambundji was born on 20 May 2002 in Bern to a Congolese father, Safuka, and a Swiss mother, Ruth. [6] She is the last of four children. Her older sister is Swiss sprinter Mujinga Kambundji. [7]

Ditaji grew up watching her siblings excel in athletics. She spent a majority of her time going to her sisters' competitions and cheering them on, which naturally influenced her to follow in their footsteps. She gives credit to her sisters for laying the path for her and making it easier when she finally joined their track club. She tried different disciplines at first before gravitating toward the hurdles. [8]

Both Ditaji and Mujinga enjoy gardening, as well as taking care of plants, when they are not competing. [8]

Statistics

16-years-old Kambundji races at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) 2018.jpg
16-years-old Kambundji races at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

Personal bests

International competitions

Representing Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTime
2018 European U18 Championships Győr, Hungary7th 100 mH (76.2cm) 13.77
Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires, Argentina14th 100 mH (76.2cm) tot. 28.42
2019 Youth Olympic Festival Baku, Azerbaijan3rd 100 mH (76.2cm) 13.63
2021 European Indoor Championships Toruń, Poland11th (sf) 60 mH i 8.07
European Team Championships, 1st League Cluj-Napoca, Romania4th 100 mH 12.98
European U20 Championships Tallinn, Estonia1st 100 mH 13.03
– (f) 4 × 100 m relay DNF
Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan33rd (h) 100 mH 13.17
World U20 Championships Nairobi, Kenya– (f) 100 mH DQ
2022 World Indoor Championships Belgrade, Serbia– (f) 60 mH iDNF
World Championships Eugene, OR, United States13th (sf) 100 mH 12.70
European Championships Munich, Germany3rd 100 mH 12.74 PB
2023 European Indoor Championships Istanbul, Turkey3rd 60 mH i7.00 CR
European Team Championships Chorzów, Poland— (f) 100 mH DQ
European U23 Championships Espoo, Finland1st 100 mH 12.68 CR
World Championships Budapest, Hungary7th 100 mH 12.70
2024 European Championships Rome, Italy 2nd 100 mH 12.40
Olympic Games Paris, France 14th (sf) 100 mH 12.68

National titles

See also

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References

  1. "Ditaji Kambundji". Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Tilastopaja Oy Track and field statistics | Ditaji Kambundji". Tilastopaja.eu. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  3. "Mujinga und Ditaji Kambundji trennen sich von Trainer Rothenbühler". Nau (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  4. "Ditaji Kambundji". Olympedia. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  5. "Athletics - Round 1 - Heat 5 Results". Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  6. "Pour les parents de Mujinga Kambundji, "l'équilibre familial passe avant le sport"". La Liberté (in French). 15 May 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  7. Gisi, Emanuel (30 July 2021). ""Nous sommes meilleurs amies"". Blick (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  8. 1 2 Borenstein, Hannah (12 March 2022). "No sibling rivalry, just mutual support, between Kambundji sisters | FEATURE | World Athletics". World Athletics. Retrieved 28 August 2023.