Nigerian cyclist Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye has shared how she was given a bicycle by the German team to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Ukpeseraye made history as the first Nigerian cyclist to compete in the Olympics. She raced in the women’s road race but did not complete the event and did not register a score.
She later participated in the Keirin and Sprint events, finishing sixth in the first round.
Ukpeseraye revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that she was offered a bicycle by the German team, Bund Deutscher Radfahrer.
She said, “Due to the short notice of me competing at the Keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks. In the spirit of sportsmanship, the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle. Thank you🙌🙌🙌.”
Despite the generous help, Ukpeseraye finished in fourth place, which was not enough to qualify for the quarterfinals. She is set to compete in one more event on Friday.
The situation highlights some logistical challenges faced by athletes in major international competitions.
Ukpeseraye’s experience underscores the importance of sportsmanship and cooperation among teams.
It was expected that the International Olympic Committee would provide bicycles for the athletes, but this did not happen.
