The Nigerian women’s bobsled team is making history. And just one a year ago, they didn’t even have a sled.
After completing their fifth and final qualifying race on November 15, the team is going to the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The team is made up of former track stars Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, and Akuoma Omeog. These women are breaking ground — they are the first team from Africa to qualify in bobsledding. In addition, they are also the first athletes to represent Nigeria at the Winter Olympics!
"This is a huge milestone for sports in Nigeria," 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. Our objective now is to be the best representation of Africa that the Winter Olympics have ever witnessed."
Back at the end of 2016, the team started a GoFundMe to help them get to the Olympics and they recently met their $75,000 goal. When the fundraising launched, the team didn’t have a sled yet, but that didn't stop them. Adigun recalls constructing her own wooden practice sled. Now they have their sled and are off to make history!
The 2018 Winter Olympics will be broadcast starting on February 9th.
Top picture via Instragram/@bsfnigeria.
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Kat Kothen-Hill is a BUST intern living in Brooklyn, NY.
Follow her on Twitter:@katkothenhill and on Instagram:kitkatkothenhill.
