Nigeria’s Historic Winter Olympic Team Arrives Tuesday

Nigeria’s historic quartet of Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, Omeoga Akuoma and Simidele Adeagbo that competed at the Pyeonchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games will return to Nigeria, Tuesday, after their trailblazing performance, in South Korea.

The quartet, who made history as the first African women to compete in Bobsled and Skeleton events at the Winter Olympics, will arrive Lagos courtesy of sponsor, KLM Airlines, at 8:05om local time.

Team Nigeria – Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Games

Interestingly, they achieved personal bests at the Olympics to set the stage for more Nigerians to embrace Winter Olympics, in the years ahead.

Adeagbo recorded a personal best of 53:73 seconds in Skeleton, while the Bobsled duo of Adigun and Akuoma reached their personal best of 52.21 seconds.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Korea, His Excellency, Ambassador Amin Mohammad Dalhatu, Minister of Sport, Barrister Solomon Dalung, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Engr. Habu Gumel, Former DG National Sports Commission (NSC) Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, Bobsled and Skeleton Federation of Nigeria President, Chief Solomon Ogba, all cheered the team, in Pyeonchang.

Team Nigeria in their beautiful attire at the closing
ceremony of the Pyeonchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games

Support for the team came from the government as well as corporate sponsors like Travelstart, STAR, VISA, KWESE Sport and ACCESS Bank.

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Nigeria’s Bobsled’s Team Makes Historic Debut

Nigeria’s Bobsled Team of Seun Adigun and Omeoga Akuoma debuted in style at the Pyeonchang 2018 Winter Olympics, when they recorded a personal best of 52.21 seconds, to become the first athletes from an African nation to compete in Bobsled, on Tuesday.

Adigun led as driver, while Akuoma was brakeman as they achieved the feat in only their first run, a few days after compatriot; Simidele Adeagbo made history as the first Nigerian and African woman to compete in Winter Olympic Games.

Team Captain, Adigun, expressed satisfaction with the performance.

“The natural competitor in me obviously would want to be sitting in first place. But one thing that people need to understand is the biggest teacher in this sport is time and time is not something that we’ve had lot of. And we’ve been able to make and maximize the most to the extent where we almost had a full second fastest time that we’ve ever pushed on this track. From the push all the way to the finish time.

“And I think that is a testament to what it means to be resilient, dedicated and committed. The model that we went by today was to give everything and we gave everything.

Ahead of the two races, on Wednesday, she added: “There is always more to give. It’s a huge learning curve and everyday I’m getting stronger. As long as we are on the ice, we are going to improve,” she said after
the race.

Omeoga Akuoma and Seun Adigun celebrating after achieving a
personal best in Bobsled at the Pyeonchang Winter Olympic Games.

Speaking on their historic feat, Akuoma said: “Feels absolutely amazing. My adrenalin was extremely high before we started the race and I was really anxious and ready to go. After we finished the first heat, I was extremely happy about that as it was the best time we’ve had on the track.

“I think it’s just a huge moment because this is the time that I’m finally able to reflect on the journey. The biggest challenge is the learning curve and to try for a better time.”

The duo returned a time of 52:55 seconds in their run.

Also present to boost support for the team was Minister of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalong, who had earlier wished the team well before the race.

On Wednesday, they will compete in the second run of women’s Bobsled.