Seun Adigun (competed in the 100 meter hurdles at the London Olympics in 2012), Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga have made history and will be making the the first ever African appearance in the winter Olympic for the bobsled competition.

Adigun, a U.S.-based former sprinter who ran for Nigeria in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, started the project from scratch last year, recruiting two other U.S.-based Nigerian sprinters — Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga — to join her. With little in the way of funding or equipment, the trio began practicing with a makeshift wooden sled handcrafted by Adigun. She then launched a Go Fund Me campaign late last year to raise the $75,000 ( R 1, 052, 370,00)  needed to fund their Olympic bid. She achieved her target in just 11 months!

Although the Nigerians have achieved the qualifying standard, there is still work to be done. Countries hoping to race in Pyeongchang must be in the top 40 of the global rankings on 14 January 14 after seven World Cup races.

Like Nigeria, Uganda is hoping to make history this year as well, thanks to 24-year-old snowboarder Brolin Mawejje. He’d be the first snowboarder to represent any African country in the Olympics if he qualifies.

Sourced from

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/11/17/nigerian-women-become-first-african-bobsled-team-to-qualify-for-olympics/?utm_term=.19340444027b
• http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-womens-bobsleigh-team-female-winter-olympics-pyeongchang-2018-seun-adigun-ngozi-onwumere-a8062801.html
• https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/18/nigerias-bobsled-womens-team-on-brink-of-winter-olympics-dream