Nigeria bobsled team

The Nigeria bobsled team or Nigerian bobsleigh team, represents Nigeria in bobsledding. The first team was established in 2016 by Seun Adigun, as a women's team for the 2-women event. In 2017, they qualified to be the first Nigerians at the Winter Olympics, and first Africans in bobsled at the Winter Olympics.[1]

Nigeria bobsled team
SportBobsledding
Founded2016
LeagueInternational Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation
Division
  • Federation: Bobsled and Skeleton Federation of Nigeria
  • Country:  Nigeria
  • NOC:  Nigeria
ManagerSeun Adigun
Members

History

The first national team was established in 2016 by Seun Adigun, in 2-woman bobsleigh. The team was entirely self-funding, without financial support from Nigerian authorities. Raising the money to run the team showed the Nigerian government that they needed to establish a governing federation for bobsled, which they did, the Bobsled & Skeleton Federation of Nigeria (BSFN). The team's first attempt to qualify for the Winter Olympics, was in 2017, for the 2018 Winter Olympics in bobsledding, the two-women event. The 2018 Olympic team consisted of driver Seun Adigun, and brakemen Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga. In November 2017, the team met the basic standard to participate in the qualifications. If the team qualifies, this would represent the first appearance of Nigeria at the Winter Olympics; and the first African team in bobsled. The team qualified for the Olympics, being its representatives at the Winter Games. Nigeria became one of eight African countries to be represented at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[2][3][4][5][6] Onwumere carried the Nigerian flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony Parade of Nations, and marched with her two teammates, along with fellow Nigerian Simidele Adeagbo, who qualified for women's skeleton.[7] The team finished last among the 20 teams who competed.[8] After the Games, the 3 on the team retired from bobsled, but pledged to develop the sport in Nigeria, grow the Nigerian sporting federation, and grow winter sports and the Winter Olympics in Africa.[8]

The team arrived in Nigeria to celebrate their Olympic experience in March 2018, organized by the BSFN marketing team, the Temple Management Company (TMC), starting at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.[9]

Equipment
  • Maeflower 1, a training sled built out of wood, named after "Mae-Mae", Amezee Adigun, Suen Adigun's deceased sister.[10]
  • Maeflower 2, the team's first racing sled, which accompanied them to the 2018 Olympics.[10]

Rosters
Event Competition Sled-team Driver(s) Braker(s) Pusher(s) [NB 1] Sled(s) Notes
2018 Winter Olympics 2-women Nigeria 1 Seun Adigun
Maeflower 2 The team finished 20th out of 20 teams, just behind the Jamaican women's team.

Notes
  1. The 2-person sled has a driver and a brake operator, but no pushers, in the 4-person sled, there's a driver, brake operator and two pushers.

References
  1. Jaime Lowe (6 March 2018). "The First African Team to Compete in Bobsled". New York Times.
  2. "Nigerian bobsled team will be country's first-ever Winter Olympics representatives". ABC News (Australia). 17 November 2017.
  3. CTV National News. 16 November 2017. CTV.
  4. Wendy-Anne Clarke (17 November 2017). "Nigerian women's bobsleigh team hope to make history in Pyeongchang". CBC News.
  5. Marissa Payne (17 November 2017). "Nigerian women become first African bobsled team to qualify for Olympics". Washington Post.
  6. Linus Unah (20 February 2018). "So How Excited Is Nigeria About Its History-Making Women's Bobsled Team?". NPR.
  7. Jennifer Calfas (10 February 2018). "Nigeria's First-Ever Bobsled Team Has Arrived at the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony and People Are Really Excited". Time Magazine.
  8. Melanie Hauser (22 March 2018). "As one journey ends, another begins for Nigerian bobsledders". Houston Chronicle.
  9. "Nigeria's Bobsled Team arrives from South Korea". Bella Naija. 3 March 2018.
  10. Jerry Brewer (20 February 2018). "If you want to celebrate Olympic diversity, women's bobsled is a good place to be". Washington Post.

Further reading

See also


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