SYLLA Miryam Fatime

General
BOOK
In 2019 she released her autobiography 'Tutta la forza che ho' [All the strength I have]. She co-authored the book alongside Italian journalist Maurizio Colantoni. (dal15al25.gazzetta.it, 03 Jul 2019; mondadoristore.it, 2019)

FALSE DOPING
In 2017 she returned an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance clenbuterol while competing at the World Grand Prix in Nanjing, People's Republic of China. She was not allowed to compete at the 2017 European Championship in Azerbaijan and Georgia, however, one month later it was confirmed the food she consumed was contaminated. "I felt bad by seeing my name linked to doping and knowing that my parents could be affected by that. I also thought about my little siblings. How could I explain them? [For me] doping is a weakness. Only an athlete who doesn't believe in their own capacity looks for external help to reach their own objectives. And I don't feel weak." (gazzetta.it, 17 Oct 2017, 11 Oct 2017)

HERITAGE
She was born in Palermo, Italy, to Ivorian parents. Her father Abdoulaye moved from Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire, to Italy where he was assisted by a Palermitan couple, Maria and Paolo. "One day she [Maria] saw my father. It was a cold winter and it snowed, she saw a big tall young man on the street and invited him inside. From then on he began cleaning their house. She later met my mother and I was born. My father took me with him and they [Maria and Paolo] became affectionate with me. They became my special grandparents." (gazzetta.it, 29 Jul 2015; DHLExpressItaly YouTube channel, 06 Mar 2018; La Repubblica YouTube channel, 23 Oct 2018; it.eurosport.com 28 Dec 2018)