Gifted Markson
In an inspiring yet concerning turn of events, Nigerian road and track cyclist Eze Ukpesereye has revealed that she had to borrow a bike to compete at the Keirin Sprint event in the ongoing 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
Ukpesereye shared the news on Thursday through a post on X (formerly Twitter), where she expressed gratitude to the German cycling team for providing her with a bicycle on short notice.
“Due to the short notice of me competing at the Keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks. In the spirit of sportsmanship, the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle,” Ukpesereye wrote.
The revelation has sparked a wave of criticism from Nigerian fans and sports enthusiasts, who point to the incident as a reflection of deeper issues within the country’s sports administration.
Many netizens argue that such situations highlight the reasons why Nigeria is yet to secure a single medal in the ongoing global event.
Ukpesereye’s tweets also hinted at her frustration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), blaming the lack of preparation and support on administrative failures.
Fans and observers around the world have since questioned the AFN for their apparent lack of adequate support for athletes, which has hindered their performance at the Olympics.
As Nigeria continues to search for its first medal in Paris, Ukpesereye’s story has become a symbol of the challenges faced by Nigerian athletes on the global stage, calling into question the effectiveness of the country’s sports administration and their commitment to supporting their athletes.