It is understandable that just a few Nigerians know the Winter Olympic Games had been ongoing since the second week of February. What with the biting hardship and politicians seemingly trying to outshine each other on the corruption scale, games designed for temperate climes simply have no place in our collective consciousness.

But a remarkable thing happened in this year’s Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Nigeria was represented for the first time by an all-female team. The four ladies competed in two events, the bobsleigh and skeleton. If you think those are strange sports, you haven’t heard anything yet. Athletes also competed in sports with odd names such as luge, Nordic combined, curling, and biathlon among others.

With names like that, it is no wonder majority of Nigerians hardly pay attention to the Winter Olympic Games. At least, in football or common sports like athletics, the dire economy doesn’t stop us from supporting our teams passionately. It would be a fair guess to assume News Nigeria editorial meetings featured the games at the bottom of the agenda.

So how did a tropical country like Nigeria end up sending athletes to the Winter Games? What part did government play in this historic event?

The indomitable spirit of four ladies
The remarkable story of Nigeria’s participation at the Winter Olympic Games is all about the determination of four girls to succeed against all odds.

Four years ago, Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, Akuoma Omeoga who participated in the bobsleigh and Simidele Adeagbo (skeleton event) were all track and field athletes hoping to make it big.

As a matter of fact, Adigun competed at the 2012 London Olympics for Nigeria in the 100m hurdles event.

In 2013, seeking a new challenge, Adigun sweet-talked Onwumere and Omeoga into hooking up with her to pursue an unlikely dream; join her as part of a bobsleigh team. It didn’t take too long for the girls to agree given that they had hit a wall as track and field athletes. But there was a problem; to compete in the bobsled event, the team must register through a national body. Nigeria had no governing body for the bobsleigh event.

Undaunted, they formed a federation which they called the Bobsled and Skeleton Federation of Nigeria. For funds to buy equipment, they launched an online GoFund Me campaign a year later. By 2017, they were able to raise about $75,000. The money was enough to get helmets, uniforms and a sled.

They started practicing in Houston Texas without snow. However, by November last year, they were able to win enough races to qualify for the Winter Olympic Games making them the first athletes to represent Nigeria at the games. This instantly turned them into international celebrities. Endorsements from brands like Visa, Beats By Dre (owned by Apple) and Under Armour soon followed. Even Serena Williams was very proud to associate with them.

For Simidele Adeagbo, the journey started in Johannesburg, South Africa. After failing to make Nigeria’s Olympic team in the high jump event, she decided to switch over to the skeleton which she had never competed in. The decision to compete in the event came after she heard about the exploits of the Nigerian bobsleigh team.

She contacted the Bobsleigh Federation of Nigeria and found out trials were being held in Houston, Texas. She got on a plane (she was a Nike employee then) to America to attend the trials. She got picked for the skeleton event since the bobsleigh already had its full complement of athletes.

But she had to qualify for the Olympic proper by making sure she made it into the top 45 of the world rankings. She made it after rigorous competitions on different tracks. Along the way, she defeated competitors from the US and Canada with a top three placing in five competitions.

Image-boosting performance
Though a podium finish at the Winter Olympic Games eluded the quartet, their performance was full of grit, and determination. Theirs was the quintessence of the Olympic spirit. They got the biggest cheers during their events and spectator realized they were witnessing something special.

What the girls embodied was the determination to succeed and blaze new trails when the odds are hugely stacked against you.

While the girls modestly insisted they competed mostly to raise awareness for the Bobsleigh and skeleton in Nigeria, their achievement went beyond that. It came at a time the country desperately needed some good news.

Transparency International has just released a damning report on the worsening corruption in the country. Boko Haram and killer herdsmen were busy killing innocent people in various parts of the country. What the girls did was to remind the world that we could rise above limitations and crisis and compete with the best in the world.

Expect to see the politicians try to take credit. President Buhari has already promised the girls a warm welcome. Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung would definitely find a way to switch the narrative to make himself look good.

But don’t be deceived, this was all about the determination of those girls to succeed. The government had no input whatsoever.

Do we need any proof that sports can thrive in Nigeria without funds from Government? With careful planning, other sports federations can replicate what the girls did. At least, with no government involvement in sports, the huge annual allocations given to sports federation in the country, which are largely diverted or wasted due to corruption, would be utilized for something else.

Note: The games ends on the 25th February, 2018


https://www.nigerianews.net/nigerian-heroines-winter-olympic-games/

Austin Cyril from https://www.NigeriaNews.net (Nigeria News)

Congratulations ladies.... We love you!