Nigerian cyclist Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye, who made history as the first Nigerian cyclist to participate in the Olympics, has shared her experience of being assisted by the German team during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Ukpeseraye competed in the women’s road race but did not complete the event. She later participated in the Keirin and Sprint cycling events, where she finished sixth in the first round. Due to the short notice of her participation, Ukpeseraye did not have a bicycle suitable for the track events. In a remarkable show of sportsmanship, the German cycling team lent her a bicycle, enabling her to compete.
Expressing her gratitude on X, Ukpeseraye wrote, “Due to the short notice of me competing at the Keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks. In the spirit of sportsmanship, the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle. Thank you.”
Ukpeseraye is scheduled to compete in one more event on Friday.
