Report just coming in from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil informs that Nigeria’s first ever rower at the Olympics, Chierika Ukogu, has made it to the semifinals of the Single Sculls Rowing event.
The Nigerian, who is based in the US, finished 5th in lane 2 in quarterfinal 3 at the time 7:54:44. As a result, she will compete in semifinal C/D 1. The top 1-3 will compete in semifinal A/B.
Many Nigerian websites had earlier reported that she did “not make the semifinal”. This did not come as a surprise because many of us from Nigeria don’t know the rules of rowing.
Chierika Ukogu will compete in Women’s single sculls semi final tomorrow by 3:30pm.
She was ranked 15th at the just concluded quarter-finals held on Tuesday.
The American-born Nigerian professional rower will battle Saiyidah Mohamed, Kim Yeji,Anna Malvina, Saltyte Lina and Rouba Amina for a place in the finals.
The athlete, who is also a graduate of Stanford University, trained with the US team before the Rio 2016 Olympics.
She showed excitement after the result was announced of her qualification for the semi finals of the rowing event.
Below are comments of Nigerians on Ukogu’s feat:
@makingofchamps Congrats to Chierika Ukogu for making to semi finals. All the best tomorrow.
— Trendy Faith (@trendyfaith) August 9, 2016
Today, take a moment to celebrate Chierika Ukogu & other athletes making us proud by giving their best for self & country. We RISE with ’em!
— Juliet ‘Kego (@julietkego) August 9, 2016
Chierika Ukogu Nigerians are behind you even the Niger Deltans that could not ROW yet are surrounded by Water
— Akpos (@officialsimcard) August 9, 2016
Chierika Ukogu this everything humanly possible to reach #Rio2016 she even forgone her academic in US. Well done patriotic #TeamNigeria
— Taofeeq Muh’d Sanusi (@elgeotaofeeq) August 9, 2016
