“It’s All Lies, Federations Made No Arrangements for Bike” – Nigerian Cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye

Nigeria’s first Olympic cyclist, Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye, has expressed deep frustration over her experience at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she was forced to borrow a bike from the German team to compete in the track cycling events.

Ukpeseraye, who only qualified for the Road Race event, revealed that she unexpectedly entered the track cycling event without prior preparation, leading her to question her future with Nigeria’s cycling team.

In an interview with Sports 247, Ukpeseraye shared the events that led to the “borrowed bike” episode, which garnered widespread attention after she posted an appreciation note on  X.

According to Ukpeseraye, she arrived in Paris on July 23, fully prepared for the Road Race, the event for which she had qualified and trained in Spain with the full support of her club.

However, upon arrival, she was informed that she would also be competing in the track cycling event, a discipline she had not prepared for and requiring a different type of bike.

“I was confused and even cried. I didn’t know why they wanted me to participate in an event I wasn’t prepared for,” she said.

She pointed out that the decision was made because the Egyptian cyclist who qualified for the event was banned by her federation, and she had the closest points to the suspended athlete.

Ukpeseraye disclosed that neither the Ministry of Sports nor the Nigeria Cycling Federation made arrangements to provide her with the necessary bike for the track event, contradicting claims that a special bike had been delivered two months before the games.

“It’s all lies; the federations never made any arrangements for the bike; they just wanted me to compete. I was the one who informed my club that I would run on the track, and they did everything to ensure I got a bike from the German track team.”

She debunked the narrative that a two-month delivery time was required for the special bike, stating, “In Europe, you can easily buy a bike by entering a shop. Don’t mind them on the two months claims.”

Regarding her appreciation post on X, which sparked controversy, she explained that the German track team requested her to publicly thank them for lending her the bike.

“The German track team wanted me to make an appreciation post because they lent me the bike. I can even share their screenshot,” she said.

“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.”

Her ordeal has cast a shadow over Nigeria’s cycling administration, with the athlete reconsidering her future with the national team.

Her experience has raised questions about the level of support provided to Nigerian athletes, particularly in international competitions.

The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, previously claimed that the public misunderstood the situation, insisting that the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) secured a bicycle for Ukpeseraye at the last minute.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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