Paris Olympics: Nigerian cyclist ‘borrows’ bicycle to compete after late call up

Ese Ukpeseraye, Nigerian cyclist, says she had to borrow a bicycle from her German colleagues to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

The cyclist revealed her challenge in a tweet on her X account on Thursday.

Ukpeseraye made history as the first Nigerian cyclist to represent the country at the Olympic Games.

She competed in the women’s road race on August 4 but did not register a score after failing to complete the event.

On Wednesday, the 25-year-old raced in the Keirin and Sprint cycling event, finishing sixth in the first round. Later in the day, she also failed to secure qualification through the repechage. 

Speaking on her experience during the race, Ukpeseraye said she was called up to participate in the second event on “short notice”.

The cyclist said she had “no bicycle to race with on the tracks”, and the German team came to her rescue. 

“Due to the short notice, I had to compete at the Keirin & Sprint. I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks,” the tweet reads.

“In the spirit of sportsmanship, the German team came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle.”

Ukpeseraye is also scheduled to participate in one more event on Friday.