Nigeria’s first Winter Olympian, Simidele Adeagbo, has reflected on her trailblazing journey at the Olympic Winter Games while celebrating the growing presence of African athletes on the world’s biggest winter sports stage.
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Adeagbo, who made history at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics as the first Nigerian and first African to compete in the skeleton event, has expressed pride in the progress made since her debut.
Her participation also marked Nigeria’s first appearance by a female athlete at the Winter Olympics.
At the 2018 Games, Africa was represented by just seven athletes from five countries.
However, the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will feature 15 African athletes drawn from eight nations—an increase of 100 percent in participation.
Speaking on her Olympic experience, the 44-year-old encouraged African athletes heading to Italy to embrace every moment of the Games.
“Just enjoy every moment. Enjoy it, enjoy it, enjoy it. It’s like nothing you would have ever experienced in your life,” Adeagbo said.
She highlighted the Athletes’ Village as one of her most memorable experiences, describing it as a unique environment that fosters global unity and cultural exchange.
“One of my best memories from my Olympics was just getting to be in the dining hall.
This is a space where everyone is able to connect. I remember thinking, ‘I have three meals a day—who can I connect with this meal?’ Having lunch with Great Britain and dinner with another nation, I really used those opportunities to meet people and celebrate this global community of sport,” she explained.
Adeagbo also reminded athletes of the historic significance of their participation, urging them to savour the moment while carrying their national colours with pride.
“You’re making history for your country. Savour all the memories and have lots of fun. The more you enjoy it, the better you’re going to do,” she added.
Milano Cortina 2026 will mark the Winter Olympics debut of three nations—Benin and Guinea-Bissau from Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.
Other African countries set to compete include Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Kenya, and Eritrea, across events such as skeleton, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and freestyle skiing.
As the Games draw closer, Adeagbo’s journey continues to inspire a new generation of African athletes to break barriers and redefine the continent’s presence in winter sports.
