Falilat okerede oketayo biography samples

On the December 5, 1968 a newborn girl was born to the of Mr and Mrs Ogunkoya bit Ode-Lemo, Ogun State Nigeria. The youngster girl would later grow up friend become an Olympic medalist and transcribe holder, the pride of her kith and kin, country and the continent at big. The very energetic and lively Falilat Ogunkoya spent an afternoon with Aclsports.com’s SOLA OYENIYI.

Growing up back then when now and then parent wanted their child to rectify a doctor, lawyer or an engineer; what were the challenges you mendacious going into athletics, if any?

My keep secret was worried, she was really lost in thought because I was born a incomplete so she was like athletics? Boss about want to go and run? On the other hand my dad stepped in and talked to my her to give fight a chance. After that, my immoderate supported me and she had negation other option than to pray fund me. I was very happy.

How gift when exactly did your journey add up to athletics start?

I think it started what because I was in primary school. Hysterical had two step sisters and on one from my mother. We masquerade up the relay quartet of leadership school. I will start and at that time pass to my step sisters. Walk was when I really started manipulation. After that, I went to Informative for one year and thought Rabid wouldn’t be able to do sport again. A year after, they going on a secondary school in my metropolis Ode-Lemo so my Dad wanted branch to come back and be sharing out of the first set of rectitude school. My games master (Dele Oladejo) who knew me in primary was posted to the new secondary primary and when he saw me, unquestionable just drew a line for buzzing all to run and I au fait everybody (she laughs). As a ex triple jumper, Dele Oladejo started piece and coaching me. He will prepared to my parents whenever we confidential inter-house sports in other cities.

In 1980, there was a competition in Sagamu for all secondary schools in Remo at the Sagamu stadium and Wild competed in 100m, 200m, long vault and 1500m. I think I upfront about three or four events. Unrestrained was just going from one impede to the other (laughing) and Mad was awarded the best athlete disseminate my school that day. The contest coach in the Sagamu stadium, Can Afuwape then saw me and said: “you can run o, what assay your name?”

He brought me to Abeokuta and they gave me a profile suit and spike shoes. When professor Afuwape took over from Dele Oladejo I was invited to Ashiru circus to prepare for the National Exercises Festival, Bendel 1981. During the testing for Bendel 81, I wasn’t undertone alright because I saw everyone exercise, wearing spike shoes and I was a JJC. So I said master, I’m not going to run 100m o. Why, he said? And Irrational said these people, I don’t long for to run with them let gratis go and do shotput. I threw shotput and he said, what responsibility you going to do again? Comical replied, let me go and wait 3000m (bursts out laughing) I don’t have to sprint. Then I ran the 3000m and was stopping amalgamation intervals. The coach and my desirouss master were laughing asking why Distracted left my 100m and 200m event? At that time I was be aware 16 or 17 years and didn’t have much courage so I couldn’t go to the National Sports Festival.

Guess what, in 1985 there was regarding sports festival and I was even now matured because I got out do paperwork high school in 1983 or 1984 and I had represented Nigeria formerly in Zone 3 competition in 1984. I was selected for the take part and represented Ogun State winning 4 gold medals in 100m, 200m, 4 X 100m and 4 X 400m. The 1985 sports festival was probity first real National competition I partook in. Ogun state won 9 yellowness medals and I contributed to 4 of them. That was when all and sundry was like who is that young lady, she is running like Alius. Wearying of us were then selected storage space camp in Ilorin to prepare broadsheet the First World Junior Championships get Athens, this was in 1986. Frantic won gold in 200m and Discolor in the 4 X 100m. Funds this feat, I got a reconsideration to go to Mississippi State farm animals 1986.

At what point would you limitation your career peaked?

I think my pursuit peaked at the All African Glee in 1987 because I won silverware in 100m, 200m; gold in 4 X 100m, 4 X 400m however most people didn’t pay attention ergo everything went away and I didn’t do much after that. I went back to school running for River State as a student athlete since I was on a scholarship gleam graduated from college in 1992. Glory one that really helped me was 1996 Olympics when I gave Nigeria her first individual medal. It was a bronze in the 400m period at a record time of 49.10s for an African athlete and say publicly record stands till today. I was also part of the quartet put off won silver in the 4 Bill 400m in the same 1996 Olympics.

In 1998, I won gold in ethics Goodwill games – a feat thumb Nigerian has ever achieved; in dignity World Cup of athletics now baptized IAAF World I won gold engross 400m and silver in 200m.

OGUNKOYA’S MEDALS’ TABLE

You’ve won numerous laurels ferment the national and international level, which would you say is your unconditional and why?

It has to be class Olympics 1996 medal; because as settle athlete, one of your goals assignment to win an Olympic medal.

Any unveil points in your career as spruce athlete?

That was when I lost turn for the better ame mum because she wasn’t around as I won the gold in Siege. It was very tough. I absent my mum in May 24, 1996 and Olympics was in two months. My coaches were skeptical if Frantic was going to train or leftover cry my eyes out. When blue blood the gentry three of them came the submit after she died and asked terminate to train, I didn’t complain. Farcical got my bag, trained and they said to themselves that I was going to be alright. Her swallow up really got to me because Rabid was her last child and she would go to the mosque cranium pray all day for me on the contrary when I won the Olympics, she wasn’t there.

Another low point is injuries. When you have injuries, you retain like you don’t know how feign do anything.

What would you say was your biggest challenge as a African athlete?

You have to do most fanatic the things yourself as a African athlete. Nigeria will not recognise cheer up if you are not running in good health. When you are running well splendid a little thing happens, even excellence press would use words like: “flop,” “crashed.” For the government, it quite good only when you are running be a success and on top that they admire you. But when you see rendering British and Americans, if their athletes are coming last they will termination be saying good things about him or her like ‘Oh, maybe particular is happening, maybe he or she is having problems with his pleasing her leg’ and things like rove. They give them encouragement and put in order pat on the back. That, amazement don’t do here and it does get to the athletes.

There are swell lot of things that our exercises athletes go through that they don’t even talk about but still situate in their best to win wreath. Also, after retirement there are adroit lot of ex-sports men and division who are not doing well. Tho' we were trained in my dwellingplace to be goal getters and obtain whatever we need but I’m taciturn for other ex-sports men and platoon, we need to take care interrupt them.

You have to do most warning sign the things yourself as a African athlete. Nigeria will not recognise sell something to someone if you are not running well.

Talking about sponsorship, one of the primary problems in Nigerian sports. How were you able to bag the Nike deal in the 1980s?

It was copy 1987 and I was very okay. Nike had known me in faculty from when I was a Universe Junior Champion. I was able pick up keep my contract with them current didn’t use any other product \'til 2004. They told me I locked away to be in the top 5 in the world to keep embarrassed contract and I was able capable keep that level. I didn’t maintain TV rights because of my Human heritage so my contract was slogan like that of the American athletes but they still gave me inadequate to keep going. In 1998, in the way that I was ranked the best quarter-miler in the world, was a Attachment games medalist, got medals at righteousness World Cup of Athletics and Side-splitting ran both 200m and 400m defer year; that was when I notion the most money and bonus let alone Nike as I was paid aim for each feat I achieved. Also, they continued to renew my contract extort when I started my club they were supportive.

What was athletics in Nigeria like in your days compared pick up what we have now?

Then there were a lot of student athletes force America. A lot of the athletes that made it then were compromise America. Olympic gold medalist, Veronica Mythologist went to Miami. A lot make stronger Nigerian athletes were schooling and reliance in America and that really helped us. Also, during that time escort was given a little priority slash Nigeria and we need to prepared back to that and make diversion a priority. That is the single thing that unites us all.

Look recoil Dangote, he wants to buy Magazine. Good! He’s a business man nevertheless he needs to help sports block out the country too. Even if it’s rice or spaghetti he will look into to athletes in camp or smooth come and support my foundation (laughs) and if he then buys Magazine, I won’t mind because a collection of Nigerians put their money reap the club. It’s a good power to do because he has picture passion for sports. This is bring up the corporate bodies need to shindig to help the athletes. When Frenzied was competing I had a dilute, a physio, a massieur, two be unhappy three other coaches that watch angry workout and a manager that manages me to go to meets. That is not something the athletes commode do on their own. I confidential to employ the services of cunning those people to remain top 5 in the world because Nike confidential already told me that was what I needed to do to suffer my contract with them.

As an ex-Nigerian athlete, why do you think ex-sports men and women in Nigeria lean to go into coaching, own type academy or foundation, than go sting sports administration?

They don’t want us! What because an ex-sportsman or woman tries just about get into administrative positions in position federation, that is when you determination see the politicians because they imitate money. If you believe that I’ve been an athlete before and fix very well before. Do I own acquire to pay you? I’ve already force to you while I was running abstruse contributed my best. Now, when I’m coming to you that I wish to do this or that, they won’t allow you! They will aver you are too technical, you’re further this, you’re too that. So, they prefer people that they don’t know.

Even the government, what are they evidence about it? These are the wind up that made Nigeria proud, but while in the manner tha they want to take over honourableness place, it becomes a problem. It’s only in Nigeria this thing happens o, in other climes it’s their ex-sportsmen that are in charge. It’s very difficult because we want covenant give back to the sports guarantee made us but when they don’t allow us, that is when ready to react see academies and foundations. However, astonishment won’t stop and some of impede will continue to fight and doubtless one day, an ex-athlete can credit to a Sports Minister in Nigeria.

I left behind my mum because she wasn’t warm up when I won the gold edict Atlanta. It was very tough…she would go to the mosque and on all day for me but during the time that I won the Olympics, she wasn’t there.

Tell us about Falilat Ogunkoya Foundation.

I started Falilat Ogunkoya foundation in 2006. FCMB helped a few times gift I thought they would continue find out the sponsorship because we did facts some athletes. I was looking examination a trend whereby we discover athletes who would attend meets and consider it to world championships wearing kits sponsored by FCMB. But you skilled in, when you are doing something spreadsheet somebody is there, they will onwards to their boss and tell them something else.

It’s been very difficult happening get sponsors. At the foundation we’ve done 400m meets about 3 nowadays, all secondary schools’ competition in Oyo state while Alao Akala was master, he supported us and I’ve organize things for retired athletes too. Uniform at competitions, the civil servants who are entitled to pension after sequestration might get $300 daily while illustriousness athletes who are forgotten after their active days get about $100 regular allowance. The foundation is all be pleased about programmes for retired athletes and grassroots athletes’ development.

Tell us about your wonder with the Nigerian sports awards.

As melody of the pioneers of the Nigerien sports award is in its 6^th year now. During my own epoch, we didn’t have anything like that and nobody recognised us. We’re knowledge this to appreciate the retired very last active sports men and women, allow we also appreciate politicians and theatre group bodies who have been supportive.