Long distance races are rarities among Nigerian athletes. But Kogi State born Aderonke Olumudi has been making waves in that area. In this interview, Olumudi talks about the importance of education, family, immediate and long-term ambitions among others. Excerpts…
What informed your decision to become an athlete?
Running is an inborn talent for me and it’s what I enjoy doing naturally. Even when I was young, I loved running around when the opportunity presented itself. It is just like following my God’s given talent and taking it as my job, and since I started I have not look back.
Why long distance race?
Seriously, I can’t specifically point to any reasons for taking to long distance races. What I can say is that I love what tests my endurance, and I had to go for an event that will test my level of endurance and strength. I can say my passion lies in long distance races.
You sold all your properties to embark on your tour of the United States. Was that a good decision?
The trust I have in myself gave me the confidence to take such a big risk. There is no gain without pain and the only way I could achieve my dream of making it big was to sponsor myself and that was what I did. I can tell you it was not an easy decision, but I had to take the risk and I am happy it paid off. I know I can make it if I put all my effort into it.
What was your family’s reaction to this seemingly erratic decision?
They gave me full support because they understand that I am following my dream.
Did they support your decision to become an athlete in the first place?
They have been there for me, even when I felt like quitting it was my parents that kept me going and I will be forever grateful to them because without them, I don’t know if I will be where I am today.
How difficult is it combining education with athletics?
Education is very important in the life of an athlete, because while athletics sustains you at the moment, you will have to fall back on your education after retirement. I am grateful to God that I have been able to combine both so far. Although I have to say that it has not been easy as both have their peculiarities, but I have been coping.
Who is your role model?
Tirunesh Dibaba, an Ethiopian long distance runner and the outdoors 5,000 metres world record holder. She is also the current World and Olympics 10,000 metres champion.
You started the US tour winning a bronze medal before a silver medal and finally gold medal; how did you achieve such feats?
When I got to the United States the cold was too much for me. But gradually I started acclimatising, and before my last event at the 10 kilometers women’s category of the third GE Irving Marathon race, I was already used to the weather and everything else flowed from there.
What is your next target now?
I am back in Nigeria to prepare for the Okpekpe 10km Road Race coming up in May. Hopefully I can win it to become first Nigerian athlete to do so. After that, maybe I will be going to the United Kingdom for some meets. I already have an invitation for a competition in Wales in July.
Are you saying you are ready for the Okpekpe Race?
I am fully fit and in the right frame of mind for the race. I didn’t perform well during the first edition, but with what I have been able to achieve in the past one month in the US, I am ready to go.
Have you got any support from the Athletic Federation of Nigeria or the National Sports Commission?
I have not got any support from anybody, not the AFN nor the NSC; it has been a lonely journey for me since I started my career as an athlete.
What is your biggest regret?
I have lots of memories of situations, circumstances that I would have preferred didn’t happen or to have hap-pened in a different or better way. However I try not to regret anything that happens to me because I believe all things happen for a reason and for good if you’re always positive minded.
What are greatest moments of your career? I will forever remember my first international meet. It was a big opportunity for me to run in China against Kenyans and Ethiopians in what was my first real international competition. I finished 10th in half marathon and first in 10km Race.
What is your advice for other young athletes like you?
To get to the top, you have to be ready to sacrifice a lot. I will advise young athletes to be more disciplined, to be more focused with perseverance and to be prayerful. If they can do that, the sky will be the starting point.
If the opportunity comes will you dump Nigeria for another country?
I love my country and I will continue to represent it despite not having the right encouragement from people at the top. I cannot dump my country and I am looking forward to the day I will win an Olympics Games gold medal for Nigeria.
What do you want from Nigeria and your state, Kogi in particular?
My appeal to Nigeria and the Kogi State government is to give a little attention and assistance to long distance runners as well. If they can do that, I am sure we can compete favourably with the Kenyans and Ethiopians. With the right environment and opportunity, Nigeria can get to the top in long distance races. We have the talents, the potential and with just little push we can become the best on the continent.
17th June 2016,the Federal Government oder the Nigeria Custom Service auction the impounded vehicles under our custody.Am custom Chika Sandra Abugu by name,am not always on line, you
can call me with this 07015473640 for an important
issues only like the CUSTOM REPLACEMENT,REC
RUITMENT FORM or Auctioning of Vehicles at cheap
and affordable price. please don’t call if you are not
interested thanks for your understanding!!! The
Federal Government has approve 2015/2016 auction
to the individual of this Country. Contact the
marketing manager customChika Sandra Abugu 07015473640 ,List
of cars and their prices,
Toyota product with prices
Toyota Hi lux #650,000
Toyota Tundra #600,000
Toyota Tacoma #600,ooo
Toyota Camry #450,000
Toyota Solara #1m
Toyota Spider #750,000
Toyota Highlander #950,000
Toyota Avenza #900,000
Toyota Venza. #800,000
Toyota Avensis #730,000
Toyota Corolla #680,000
Toyota Carina #600,000
Toyota Prius #600,000
Toyota Sienna #650,000
Toyota Rav4 #650,000
Toyota 4Runner #580,000
Toyota Land cruiser #700,000
Toyota Prado #700,000
Toyota FJ cruiser #750,000
Toyota Avalon #680,000
Toyota Picnic #600,000
Toyota Matrix #630,000
Toyota Yaris #6oo,000
Toyota Coaster 36seater #700,00
Toyota Ha ice 530,000
Price of some Honda product
Honda Pilot #900,000
Honda Element #950,000
Honda Odyssey #800,000
Honda Regine #750,000
Honda Accord #800,000
Honda City #7500,000
Honda Evil spirit #800,00
Honda Civic #620,000
Honda Crustor #750,000
Price of some of Nissan product
Nissan Pathfinder #1.2m
Nissan Murano #1m
Nissan Quest #1m
Nissan Amada #800,000
Nissan Altima #750,000
Nissan Sentra #700,000
Nissan Almera #600,000
Nissan Primera #600,000
Nissan Sunny #450,000
Nissan Civilian #500,000
Price of some Peugeote product
Peugeote 504 #500,000
Peugeote 407 #480,000
Peugeote 406 #350,000
Peugeote 307 #300,000
Peugeote 306 #300,000
Peugeote 304 #250,000
Peugeote 302 #250,000
Peugeote J5. #430,000
Price of some Lexus Product
Lexus ES 300 #500,000
Lexus ES 330 #520,000
Lexus GS 300 #400,000
Lexus RX 300 #300,000
Lexus RX 330 #350,000
Lexus RX 350.#500,000
Lexus GX 470 #650,000
Lexus GX 460 #600,000
Lexus LX 450 #450,000
Lexus LX 570 #650,000
Price of some BNW
BMW X1 #560,000
BMW X5 #680,000
BMW X3 #600,000
BMW 328XI #600,000
BMW 380XI #680,000
BMW 520XI #600,000
BMW 745LI #550,000
BMW 750LI #500,000
BMW 318TI #400,000
BMW 530I #400,000
BMW 454I #450,000
BMW 320I #350,000
BMW 328I #350,000
BMW 450I #300,000
BMW M1 #600,000
BMW M3 #650,000
BMW M5 #650,000
BMW M4 #680,000
BMW Z1 #500,000
BMW Z2 #600,000
BMW Z3 #600,000
Price of some Mercedes Benz product
Mercedes Benz ML 350 #750,000
Mercedes Benz ML 320 #720,000
Mercedes Benz ML 500 #750,000
Mercedes Benz GL 250 #700,000
Mercedes Benz CL 55 #500,000
Mercedes Benz CL 500 #550,000
Mercedes Benz CL 350 #600,000
Mercedes Benz C 250 #680,000
Mercedes Benz C 280 #680,000
Mercedes Benz C 300 #7500,000
Mercedes Benz C 240 #700,000
Mercedes Benz E 320 #600,000
Mercedes Benz E 420 #600,000
Mercedes Benz E 450 #600,000
Mercedes Benz E 350 #680,000
Mercedes Benz E 500 #680,000
Mercedes Benz S 430 #600,000
Mercedes Benz S 550 #630,000
Price of some Mazda product
Mazda 6 #650 ,000
Mazda 636 #600,000
Mazda 626 #500,000
Mazda 3 #550,000
Mazda 363 #500,000
Mazda 323 #400,000
Mazda 2 #400,000
Mazda 262 #350,000
Mazda 232 #300,000
Mazda MPV #650,000
Mazda Tribute #500,000
Price of some Acura product
Acura Mdx #750,000
Acura Rsx #550,000
Acura Rdx #650,000
Acura Zdx #600,000
Acura Tsx #500,000
Acura Ilx #400,000
Acura Tl #500,000
Acura Rl #400,000
Acura Lengend #650,000
Acura Intrega #600,000
Price of some infiniti product
Infiniti G37 #750,000
Infiniti G35 #700,000
Infiniti G20 #600,000
Infiniti J30 #590,000
Infiniti M37 #750,000
Infiniti M45 #800,000
Infiniti QX4 #700,000
Infiniti Q45 #650,000
Infiniti Q50 #600,000
Infiniti I35 #580,000
Infiniti I30 #550,000
Infiniti QX56 #500,000
Infiniti QX60 #600,000
Infiniti FX35 #580,000
Infiniti EX35 #500,000
Price of some Audi product
Audi A8 #600,000
Audi A7 #530,000
Audi A6 #530,000
Audi A5 #530,000
Audi A4 #500,000
Audi A3 #400,000
Audi S6 #500,000
Audi S5 #450,000
Audi S4 #400,000
Audi S3 #350,000
Audi Q5 #500,000
Audi Q7 #600,000
Audi R8 #680,000
Price of some Kia product
Kia Spectra #720,000
Kia Forte #540,000
Kia Rio #450,000
Kia Sorento #500,000
Kia Borrega #500,000
Kia Optima #450,000
Kia Sedona #400,000
Kia Sportage #500,000
Kia Soul #650,000
Price of some Volkswagen
Volkswagen Jetta #550.000
Volkswagen Passat #500.000
Volkswagen Beetle #450,000
Volkswagen Boa #450,000
Volkswagen Sharon #400,000
Volkswagen Golf 1,2,3,4,5 #200-#450,000
They arrange from 1999- 2015 model.
They illegal importation into the and they seized by
the federal and we were ask to auction it to the
citizen of this country.
Clearance and Registration should be made before
delivering to the buyer,
We are located at Ogun state,Ipokia local government
Idiroko boarder.
Contact the Marketing manager Custom Chika Sandra Abugu
07015473640 for further information