Story of Nigeria’s Olympic cyclist who was forced to borrow bike in Paris
NIGERIA'S first ever Olympic cyclist was forced to borrow a bike from the German team to compete in Paris after being unable to source one of her own.
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Ese Ukpeseraye was initially only registered for the women's road race but competed in the keirin and the sprint — which require a different type of bike — at short notice.
The 25-year-old athlete revealed on social media that, in a touching gesture, the German cycling squad came to her rescue to ensure she could participate.
'Due to the short notice of me competing at the keirin & Sprint, #TeamNigeria, I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks,' Ukpeseraye wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
'In the spirit of sportsmanship the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle. Thank you.'
Her post led to widespread condemnation of Team Nigeria's organisational failings but the country's sports minister has insisted the situation was unavoidable.
John Owan Enoh said the Union Cycliste Internationale had offered Nigeria slots in two women's track events at the last minute due to a disqualification.
The offer came after the Olympic team had already arrived in Paris, Enoh added.
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“For this track race reallocated to Team Nigeria, a very special equipment (approved specifically for the Olympic track game) is used,” he said on X.
“It'll take months to have it delivered after ordering and making payment.”
Ukpeseraye's first event came in the women's road race but she, along with a number of other competitors, did not complete the 154km (96 mile) route.—Daily Mail