And Chierika Ukogu did just that. Coco as she is fondly called, rowed her way to the Olympics! - Rio 2016. Ukogu, born October, 2nd 1992, became the first Nigerian ever to qualify and represent her country in rowing at the Olympics. She participated in the Women's Single Scull category and made it to the semifinals. On Olympic waters!
In retrospect, the American-born Nigerian said she had sent the Nigerian Rowing and Canoeing Federation tons of emails, to which she got no response at all. She says now she is glad they never responded as their silence motivated her to want to be her best at rowing and prove that she is worth paying attention to.
Now, did you know that Chierika (Coco) went as far as deferring her dream of medical school just to have all the time for the sport she loves so much and make a name for herself. And whether or not she has qualified for the finals, gurl did she make that name!
Before her there was no #TeamNigeria as far as rowing was concerned, (only her one) Coco became that team!
Sounds easy, yeah? But nah. Knowing that her emails weren't even responded to, let alone sponsorship be provided for her dream and aspiration, Chierika Ukogu set up a GoFundMe account to solicit funding to cover her expenses to the Olympics Rio2016. The account was set up about a year to the games.
The Olympics, of course, did not come cheap. The Stanford graduate had to train and transition from sweep rolling that she was used to, to sculling to be able to make the selection. She had to get out of her comfort zone of rowing in a group of other rowers to a lone activity with just two oars. She was first told by her club's head coach that she wasn't good enough for the Olympics but that testimony didn't last long with such a determination. The same coach later praised her for being such a fast learner at the sport.
Remember the Ibo proverb: "onu kwuru njo ga ekwu mma?"It means that the mouth that speaks ill will later speak good.
Chierika Ukogu made it to the semifinals in the Women's Single Scull event of the Olympics Rio2016, but could not make it to the finals.
We totally love every bit of her spirit; every bit of her story.
Chierika (Coco) Ukogu is a muse, and we are crushing on her. #WCW
No comments:
Post a Comment