By Hananeel Jackson
Edo 2020 National Sports Festival Most Valuable Athlete, Ifiezibe Gagbe has given hint on the secret of her success story in Benin City.
Gagbe in an exclusive interview with Radio Nigeria said after she was delivered to her baby in 2016 prior to the 2018 National Sports Festival in Abuja she became heavy due to her weight.
She explained that she was weighing 80 to 90Kg making it difficult for her to drop to her normal weight before she went to the event in Abuja
She noted that she took courage from her experience in Abuja 2018 where she won 18 silver medals because her opponents capitalized on her weakness.
The University of Portharcourt graduate noted that she was able to overcome the 2018 National Sports Festival silver medal performance with consistent training and personal workout describing herself as a golden girl.
She stressed that since she was beaten back then just close to the finishing touch, she vowed to return to Edo with many gold medals.
The star swimmer lauded Governor Douye Diri for giving prompt attention to sports since he assumed office, stressing that early preparation by the state-contingent was the reason behind Bayelsa State’s third-place finish at the just ended 20th National Sports Festival in Benin City, Edo State.
Gagbe frowned at the Swimming Federation’s inability to choose the best hands to represent Nigeria in international competition.
She advocated that there was a need to do away with favoritism, emphasizing that the National Sports Festival was not enough to prepare athletes for the Olympics games.
She called on the Nigeria Swimming Federation to organize programs that would enable athletes to be in the right shape before a major tournament.
Ifiezibe Gagbe emerged overall best performer at the 20th National Sports Festival in Benin City with a total of 8 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze medals while Team Bayelsa amassed 169 medals 56 gold, 55 silver, and 58 bronze to finish third in the Medals table.
