The Nigerian women's bobsled team has qualified to compete at the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, this coming February. The team is the first from Nigeria to ever compete in the Winter Games. The Bobsled & Skeleton Federation of Nigeria, established only last year, raised over $75,000 for expenses through crowdfunding. The team trains in Texas.
Driver Seun Adigun and brakemen Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga completed the fifth of their required five qualifying races on Wednesday, becoming the first African team, men or women, to qualify in the Bobsled category.
In women's bobsled, teams are required to complete five races to qualify. The Nigeria team, led by driver Adigun - a former African 100m hurdles champion and 2012 summer Olympian - completed races in Utah, one in Whistler, and their final two races in Calgary on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"This is a huge milestone for sports in Nigeria," driver Adigun told KweséESPN. "Nothing makes me prouder than to know that I can play a small role in creating opportunities for winter sports to take place in Nigeria.
Nigeria could qualify for the skeleton competition, too, as qualifying races are in progress. Read more about the team at ESPN. -via reddit
(Image credit: Bobsled & Skeleton Sports Federation of Nigeria)
Newest 2 Comments
They signed up for it. Let us hope they are prepared for the onslaught from the public and their handlers.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
These women will have to be strong, not only to compete, but to withstand Americans joking about Cool Runnings, female movie remakes, and Nigerian fundraising.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)