By Yemi Babalola Lagos
Over the years when it comes to the groundbreaking moments in the world of sports, no doubt Nigerian athletes are part of these moments. More so the women in the sporting world.
This is why; today on Sport Amazon, we are celebrating the women who made history at the just concluded Winter Olympics flying the flag of Nigeria high for the world to see.
The names Simidele Adeagbo, Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga are names that help the nation make history at the Winter Olympics hosted in PyeongChang, South Korea. Knowing that our climate in Africa is not one that helps the developments of prospective athletes who would like to be part of the winter games, as most parts of Africa is more of the hot climate.
Despite this, these quartet athletes made history by becoming the first women from Africa and Nigeria to qualify for the Skeleton and Bobsled event.
Adeagbo was Nigeria’s flag bearer at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. She was born in Ontario, Canada on July 29, 198. Adeagbo was a triple-jumper before she became Nigeria and Africa’s first female skeleton athlete, as well as the first black female athlete in the sport of skeleton.
Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga reshaped history by becoming the first Nigerian women’s Bobsled team. Before this historic moment, they are established athletes who have been involved in athletics. Adigun, who created the team, is a Nigerian-American born on January 3 1987; she is a track and field athlete who specializes in the 100 meters hurdles. She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics, but did not qualify from her heat.
Onwumere on the other hand was born on January 23 1992 in the United States of America; she is a sprinter who competes internationally for Nigeria. In track, Onwumere specializes in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and 4 x 100 meters relay.
Omeoga was born on June 22 1992 in St. Paul Minnesota, United states of America, she was one of the three Bobsled Nigerian team in PyeongChang.
Despite not coming back with a medal at the just concluded Competition, their feat of shattering the glass ceiling of participation is worth celebrating on its own. This is why they are our Amazon for the week, we celebrate with the women and hope that their feat would encourage others to buckle up and we would get to see more Nigerian women and Nigerians generally show interest in the Winter Olympics.
Simidele Adeagbo, Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga are indeed worth celebrating and their story of how they made history, if for no other reason, should teach each and every one of that, until you try it would never seem like it can be done.
