Paris 2024 Olympics Bike saga embarrassing, says Ukpeseraye

Posted : 15 August 2024

Following the bicycle saga at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, has expressed her frustration and is reconsidering her future in cycling with Nigeria after the "Paris 2024 Olympics Borrowed Bike" episode.

Ese revealed all that transpired at the Olympics, which led to the bike borrowing incident, in an appreciation post on X that caught the world's attention. She concluded by sharing her frustration, which has led her to reconsider her future in Nigerian cycling.

Ese, who had her pre-Olympic preparations in Spain with her club, revealed that she only qualified for the road event and adequately prepared for it, as her club provided all the support and encouragement needed to enjoy her road race at the Olympics.

She only received news of her participation in the track event on July 23rd when she arrived in Paris for the games—an event for which she never prepared and which also required a different bike.

“I only qualified for the road race event at the Olympics. I arrived in Paris on July 23rd and received the news that I would be participating in a track event, which was totally against my wishes,” Ese began.

“I was confused and even cried. I didn’t understand why they wanted me to participate.

"I later found out that the Egyptian girl who qualified for the event was banned by her federation in Egypt for indiscipline. I had to do the race because my points were the closest to the suspended Egyptian athlete, which I eventually agreed to.”

She revealed that neither the Ministry of Sports nor the Nigeria Cycling Federation made any arrangements or provided any assistance in securing a bike for the road events, contrary to the narrative that there was a two-month delivery time for the special bike required for the road event.

“It’s all lies. The federation never made any arrangements for the bike; they just wanted me to compete.”

“I was the one who informed my club that I would be racing 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 walking into a shop. Don’t believe their claims about the two-month delivery time.”

“Please ask them what they actually provided for me for the road event. They claimed they provided everything I needed, so let them answer, and then I will respond. 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 Nigerian 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.

Paris 2024 Olympics Bike saga embarrassing, says Ukpeseraye

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