Simidele Adeagbo has officially qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in the Women’s Skeleton. Simidele will be the first Nigerian and African female athlete to compete in the Olympics in the sport.
She will also be the first Black female athlete to compete in the Skeleton in the Winter Olympics. Her qualification came after she completed 5 required races.
Her journey into Skeleton started when she heard about the Nigerian bobsled team, so, she decided to go for a trial in August and was successful.
According to her website, Simidele made history in her 5th and 6th races, becoming the first ever African Skeleton athlete to place in the top 3 and be represented on the podium in international competition.
A four-time NCAA All-American and triple jump school record holder, Simidele hopes that her achievements will go beyond her and her new sport.
“Ultimately, for me, this is about breaking barriers in sports. It’s about making history. And leaving a legacy. It’s about moving sport forward. That’s so much bigger than just me being an Olympian. This will open doors and unlock the potential of future generations of athletes,” she said.
With Simidele and the three women bobsledders, Nigeria will be greatly represented at the Olympics this year.