Nigerian bobsled pilot recognised as first African winter and summer Olympian

Seun Adigun, a Nigerian bobsled pilot, has become the first ever African winter and summer Olympian.

Adigun led three other team members –Ngozi Onwumere, Akuoma Omeoga and Simi Adeagbo– to represent Nigeria at the 2017 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang County, South Korea.

According to Ayako Ito of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Study Centre has confirmed that Seun Adigun is the first ever African athlete from both male and female categories to compete in both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

The African athlete is one of the athletes to be so recognized at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics; the second being Pita Taufatofua of Tonga, a taekwondoist turned skier.

Adigun represented Nigeria in athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics and in bobsleigh at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

“This is a real-life example of what it means to represent African excellence and a true testament to the fact that impossible is nothing. This milestone is truly a blessing,” Adigun said.

“The preparations for the Winter Games was different in the sense that my passion was driven by my self-less intentions to create a positive representation for Nigerians and Africans, globally.

“That passion was accompanied by several thoughts of fear and anxiety, but it was overcome by God’s grace and the support of everyone who played a part in the journey, no matter how big or small.”