Nigeria’s Cyclist to the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ese Ukpeseraye has revealed how other activities at the Velodrome in Abuja affected her Track Cycling, Sports247 reports
According to her, Nigeria has one of the best Velodromes, (Cycling Track ) in Abuja but Cyclists rarely get to use it for their training as the place is under use, by Religious bodies and rented out for parties.
In a interview with Sports 247.ng Ese lamented the situation by sharing her personal experience which frustrated her and slowed down her Track Cycling.
” We have a good Velodrome in Abuja, in fact the best in Africa but for you to use it you have to stay in Abuja”
” But it’s frustrating after travelling to Abuja only to get the Velodrome and you are not allowed to train because the place has been rented out for religious activities and parties because of that I have to concentrate on the Road Race”.
Speaking from her base in Spain , Nigeria sole Cyclist to the 2024 Paris Olympics narrated how she loves riding bicycles to farm from her village in Delta State and how she made contact with Cycling through ” Bro David, aka DPC.
” I only rode in my village to the family until I was one David introduced me to Cycling, who is also a Cyclist from my village to Agbo in Delta State.
He made me fall in love with Cycling, I only know Athletics, I can run very well back then in my Primary and Secondary schools day even run and win prizes running for my school.”
” Making the switch from Athletics to Cycling wasn’t easy at first because Cycling was a tedious sport that required special sacrifices.”
” But I got inspired when I was in a competition in Lagos and returned to Delta State and put all my mind into it and gave it all it requires”.
Ese Ukpeseraye makes history as the first ever Nigerian to compete in Cycling at the Olympics when she completed the Road Event on August 4th 2024 when the Sport made its debut as an Olympic Sport for Nigeria.
She later competed in two Track events at the Olympics but she drew world wide attention when posted a message on her X account appreciating the German track team for lending her bike for the Track events.
