Nigeria’s First Olympic Cyclist Borrowed Bike from German Team to Compete in Keirin and Sprint

Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye, Nigeria’s track cyclist had to rely on the generosity of the German cycling team to compete, as she was without a bicycle just hours before her races in the Keirin and Sprint events.

In a post on  X, Ukpeseraye expressed her gratitude to the German team, @bunddeutscherradfahr, for their act of sportsmanship in lending her a bicycle at such short notice.
“Due to the short notice of me competing at the Keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks. In d spirit of sportsmanship the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle. Thank you????????????,” she wrote.

Ese, 25, has made history as the first Nigerian cyclist to participate in the Olympic Games.

She is Nigeria’s leading female cyclist and has earned her reputation through outstanding performances in national and international competitions.

Her Olympic qualification was secured after a stellar showing at the 19th Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) Road Championships in Accra, Ghana, where she won the gold medal in the Elite Women’s Road Race, earning 250 points.

This victory, along with her success in three separate cycling events—including a road race and two track cycling competitions—paved the way for her historic Olympic debut.

She previously competed in several high-profile competitions, including the 2021 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the 2021 Africa Track Cycling Championship, where she claimed multiple national titles.

As at the time of filling this report the authorities of the country’s sporting bodies are yet to react or give feedbacks on this matter.  However, other issues had ensued in the course of the ongoing Olympics leading to Favour  Ofili’s inability to compete in the 100m hurdles at Paris 2024 Olympics, due to errors by Officials.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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