Simidele Adeagbo, widely recognised as Africa’s most decorated sliding athlete, recently opened up about her journey in winter sports and why she chose to represent Nigeria instead of well-established programs in the United States or Canada.
Adeagbo reflected on her historic debut at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, where she not only fulfilled a personal dream but also made history as the first Nigerian, first African, and first Black woman skeleton racer at the Games. That achievement marked a breakthrough moment in her career and helped broaden the narrative around who belongs in winter sports.
She admitted that nothing fully prepares an athlete for their first Olympics, but emphasised the importance of believing you belong once you’ve qualified. That mindset, she says, helped her manage pressure and embrace the experience.
Before winter sport, Adeagbo was a track and field athlete who narrowly missed qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in the triple jump. Looking back, she believes her journey in winter sports has had a wider impact than if she had competed as a jumper, because it challenged assumptions and inspired others from under-represented regions and backgrounds.
When asked why she opted for Nigeria over the USA or Canada, she explained that while those countries have strong winter sports infrastructures, representing Nigeria offered a chance to build something meaningful from scratch to be a pioneer and lay a foundation for future athletes. She drew inspiration from the legacy of the 1988 Jamaican bobsleigh team, whose pioneering efforts left a lasting mark on the sport.
Adeagbo describes how she would like to be remembered: not just as an athlete or pioneer, but as a change-maker. She highlighted her contribution to expanding women’s participation in Olympic bobsleigh, advocating for more quota places and working toward greater equity in the sport. Though she narrowly missed qualifying for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, she considers the broader progress for women in the sport a significant legacy.
Source: Punch Nigeria
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