Nigeria’s first ever Olympic Cyclist , Ese Ukpeseraye has expressed her frustration and considering her Cycling future with Nigeria after the Paris 2024 Olympics Borrowed Bike” episode Sports 247 reports.
In a Tell -It- All- with our correspondent, Ese revealed all that transpired at the Olympics which led to the Bike Borrowing episodes and appreciation post on X which got the attention of the world and concluded by revealing her frustration which makes her to be considering her Nigeria Cycling future.
Ese who had her Pre Olympic preparations in Spain with her club revealed she only qualified for the Road event and adequately prepared for it as her club gave all the support and encouragement to go enjoy her Road Race at the Olympics.
She only received the news of her participation in the track event on July 23rd when she arrived in Paris for the games, an event she never prepared for which also required a different bike.
“I only qualified for the Road Race event at the Olympics . I arrived in Paris on July 23 and I received the news that I will be participating in a track ,which was totally against my wish” began Ese.
“I was confused and even cried why they want me to participate I don’t know. But I later got to know that the Egyptian girl who qualified for the event was banned by her Federation in Egypt for indiscipline and I had to do the race because my point was the closest to the Egyptian athlete that was suspended which I later obliged”
She revealed that neither the Ministry of Sports nor the Nigeria Cycling Federation made any arrangements or helped her in any way to get a bike for the Road events, contrary to the two Months delivery time for the Road event Special Bike narratives.
“It’s all lies, the Federations never made any arrangements for the bike, they just wanted me to compete.”
“I was the one that informed my club that I will run on track, and they did everything to ensure I got a bike for the event from the German track team”
“In Europe you can easily buy a bike by entering a shop, don’t mind them on the two months claims”.
“Please ask them what they really provided for me for the road event, which they said they provided everything I needed, let them answer then I will reply, if they said they provided me with a Road bike “.
On the X Appreciation Post
“They are angry with me because I made that appreciation post. ”
“The German track team wanted me to make an appreciation post, because they told me they lent me the bike, I can even share their screenshot”,
She concluded by considering her future with Nigeria Cycling
“Sincerely I am tired , it’s frustrating, they don’t care and I am really angry.
“If this episode means Nigeria will not take me to international events again no problem, I am happy I have cleared my mind.” Ese Ukpeseraye concluded.
