ABIDJAN: The Ivory Coast president has rewarded Cheick Salllah Cisse, the country's first ever Olympic gold medallist, with a new house and a 50 million CFA franc (75,000 euro, $84,000) cash bonus.
Cisse, who clinched the men's under-80kg taekwondo title with a dramatic last second move, was one of four Ivorian athletes competing at Rio 2016 to be honoured for their exploits on Monday.
Ruth Gbagbi, who won taekwondo bronze to become the first ever Ivorian woman medallist, was also given the keys to a new home and 45,000 euros.
Two track athletes were also honoured by Ivorian head of state Alassane Ouattara,.
Marie-Josée Ta Lou, who came in fourth in the women's 100m and 200m, and Ben Maite, sixth in the men's 100m, pocketed 30,000 euros and 15,000 euros respectively.
The quartet were made officers of the National Order.
Ouattara released funds totalling 580,000 euros to the west African nation's 12 athletes competing in Rio last month and their coaching staff and officials.
Before Rio, Ivory Coast had only one medal to its name - the men's 400m silver picked up by Gabriel Tiacoh at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.
That all changed when Cisse stunned third seed Lutalo Muhammad of Britain with a four-point score right at the death to win 8-6.
At the presidential presentation the athletes appealed for increased funding.
"We were supported. The Government did would it could...but we need new laws passed so that athletes can develop in their sports," declared Cisse.
The majority of Ivorian athletes train in difficult conditions and find it hard to raise funds to meet their costs.
Ouattara said he had listened to "the complaints" and said he expected "proposals from the government" to deal with their plight.
He had earlier recalled the 32-year gold medal wait "before our dream was realised" and said that the medals "were a joy for every Ivorian".
"The Ivory Coast is on the map of the world in every area" he stated.
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