The 2018 Winter Olympics: Bobsledding
The 2018 winter Olympics began on Wednesday in Pyongyang, South Korea containing 2,920 athletes from 92 participating nations. Events contain sports such as speed skating, snowboarding, curling, and many more thrilling winter activities. Although there has not been much coverage for the Olympics from what I have seen lately on social media outlets, people around the world are stoked to show their pride for their home countries and their athletic abilities.
Although I am not a big winter Olympics fanatic, I am however, excited about bobsledding. Bobsledding, an event that requires 2-4 people, involves two brakemen and someone to steer, while the sled races along the track created with plenty of twists and turns is nonetheless inspiring. Unfortunately, I would not be going for the home team, USA. Instead, Nigeria has my support this year.
They are writing history. Nigeria has themselves the first African bobsled team to qualify for the Olympics. Not only is their bobsledding team something to see, but also since 1994, the Olympics will see more participants that are African this year in the televised event. It is time to highlight the real reason why their bobsledding team has the world impressed: it does not snow in Africa! If you are not impressed yet, then enlighten yourself by doing some research on Africa.
The women started to fundraise in order to compete in the Olympics. Africa has not been able to fund for the sport, and let alone, the Olympics. The women began a GoFundMe, and set themselves to strict spending limits to successfully meet their goal of raising $75,000 in 14 months leading up to the event.
By being dual citizens of Africa and the US, Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, and Akuoma Omeoga are the women who represent Nigeria in this year’s winter Olympics. All are track and field athletes with experience in other important skills that dominate the world we live in today like being involved with the business world and attending school full time. Originally, the bobsledding idea came from Adigun and her teammates originally though she was crazy, but they followed through. Adigun built a bobsled for two out of wood, allowing her to train for the event although; none are fully skilled in the event. Even through the many practices that they go through, they manage to have fun and support each other.
So far, these women display one of the most important aspects of winning their country a gold medal. Besides skill, these women have teamwork.
This energetic team has been on Ellen, inspiring young women everywhere to go after their dreams: even the ones that seem impossible. From each interview, the women show pride amongst themselves and within each other and they hope for an impactful finish in the Olympics. Just competing is a one of a kind stepping stone for Africa and women all-around the world. The women are striving to make their country proud and represent their Nigerian culture in a way that has never been done. Bobsledding for women begins on Monday February 19 and you can watch these women compete on several live-streaming websites and on NBC as well. Wishing them good luck from here in the US, I know they will make Africa proud!
