Nigerian athlete, Chierika Ukogu made history by becoming the first African to compete at the Olympics Games rowing event final after she finished second at the women’s singles sculls final D yesterday.
Ukogu’s finish wasn’t enough to place her among the top three rowers that will be presented with medals but it’s still seen as a massive achievement by the Nigerian which will boost her world ranking and prepare her mentally for the next Games in Tokyo.
The Nigerian came under media spotlight when she finished fifth in Quarterfinal 3 and was initially ruled to have been knocked out before she was called back, also impressing in the white dominated sport by scaling through to the finals against all odds.
The American born rower is the first Nigerian to represent the country in the sport, is a graduate of Stanford University and trained with the US team before the Rio 2016 Olympics. In an interview she had before the Olympics, Ukogu said her goal has always been to represent Nigeria in the Olympics.
“It is my ultimate goal to be the 1st Nigerian to row at the Olympic Games,” she said. Heading into Rio, it’s a really wonderful opportunity for Nigeria. This is the first time we’ve had an athlete at the Olympics in the sport of Rowing.”
