Making the Olympics Games medals podium is the dream of every budding athlete, including 11-year-old Ofe Obianke.
The multi-talented Junior Secondary two (JS2) student, who emerged the star of the Inter House Sports of Excel College, Ejigbo, Lagos State is looking ahead to hitting the national limelight in athletics very soon.
Ofe literally forced spectators at the Nigerian Air Force Base stadium, Shasha, to the edge of the seats, as she sprinted like a gazelle to win the 100 metres and 200 metres gold medals for Blue House during the meets. She also won a gold medal in the High Jump event.
“It is natural to feel good after winning any competition. I have always been winning medals in both the 100m and 200m, even in my primary school.
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“I watch the IAAF competitions, especially during the IAAF Golden League seasons. I am inspired by what I see the athletes do on the tracks. And whenever I am on the tracks during any competition, those pictures play in my minds.”
Although Ofe expressed worries that only a few Nigerian athletes feature in the IAAF Golden League, she however commended Nigerian Tracks and Field star, Blessing Okagbare- Ighoteguonor for her exploits at the meets.
“Sometimes when I don’t see any Nigerian featuring during the IAAF Golden League, I feel bad. Blessing Okagbare makes me feel good watching her races. I also see one Amusan (referring to Oluwatobiloba Amusan). I want to be there. I want to participate at the Olympic Games sometime in the future.
I want to work very hard on my tracks because I want to win Olympics medals. Blessing is my Nigerian role model in the tracks. I would like to surpass her records,” she said.
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The talented junior athlete said she sees no competition whenever she gets on the tracks as she sees only the finishing line. “I don’t see competition. I am a Catholic and when I fly my Rosary, see no competitor but the finishing point. By so doing, I am always focused to win my event.
Ofe, who thanked her mother for encouraging her both in her academics and passion in athletics, commended the management of Excel College for the opportunity given to the students to explore their talents, saying “it is fun for us the students to showcase and share our ideas about sports.”
Tamilore Gbenga emerged champion in the 100m Senior Girls event, while Nneka Obu and Mary Idowu won silver and bronze medals respectively.
