3 months ago
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Nigeria’s first-ever representative in cycling at the Olympics, Ese Ukpeseraye, said she is proud to have laid the marker for cycling in Nigeria after competing in two events at the Paris 2024 Games, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Ukpeseraye became the first Nigerian, either man or woman, to feature in the event at the Olympics, cycling in the 158 km road race and the track race.
The 25-year-old did not finish her first event, the 158km road race on August 4, but managed the sixth position in the first heat of the women’s track event.
She finished with a time of 13.108, missing out on an automatic spot into the quarterfinals.
Despite the disappointment, the Canyon-SRAM Generation cyclist is moved by the feat of making history.
“I deserve some accolades. The green, white, green with pride. Epic moments. Write my name in gold. I’ve set the ball rolling for cycling in Nigeria,” she wrote via X on Thursday.
“I never expected to go to the Olympics, but I just tried my best. When they told me I’d qualified for the Olympics, I was so happy,” she said via cyclingnews.com.
“I have been to Paris before for the World Track Championships, but I haven’t ridden on the course for the road race. I have just seen it on my phone.”
After starting her career in Nigeria, Ukpeseraye joined the German racing club, Canyon-SRAM Generation, which she said has contributed immensely to her development.
“I have learnt so much since joining Canyon-SRAM Generation. If it wasn’t for the team and being in Girona, I would not have had this improvement. It’s not going to be easy for me, as it will be my first Olympics. But I want to make my team proud and to make my sisters happy,” she told cyclingnews.com before the Games.
Ukpeseraye won the 2023 African Continental Championships (road race). She also won a silver medal in the track event and a bronze medal in the road race during the 2023 African Games in Ghana.
