A Nigerian cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, captured the nation’s attention – and its outrage – when it emerged she had to borrow a bicycle from the German team to compete in the ongoing 2024 Olympics Games in Paris.
The dramatic story unfolded as the young athlete who qualified for the Keirin and Sprint events, faced the daunting reality of having no bike to race following a last-minute qualification. Despite millions in funding allocated to the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Ukpeseraye found herself without this essential piece of equipment.
German cyclists stepped in with a loaner bike, allowing the Nigerian to compete. While the act of sportsmanship garnered praise, many have questioned the circumstances that led to a situation where an athlete representing the country was forced to borrow basic equipment.
However, Sports Minister John Owan explained that Nigeria originally qualified for a road cycling event and was fully prepared with the required equipment. Just two weeks before the Olympics, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) reallocated additional slots to Nigeria, including the Keirin and Sprint events, which required a different type of bicycle.
Due to the short notice and the specialized nature of the equipment needed for track cycling, the Minister stated that the Cycling Federation, in collaboration with Ukpeseraye’s club and a German company, secured a track bike for Ukpeseraye.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
