Simidele Adeife Omonla Adeagbo, Olympians: Olympians for Life – website of the WOA (born July 29, 1981, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a Nigerian skeleton racer who competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She is Nigeria and Africa's first female skeleton athlete. She was the first black female Olympian in the sport. In 2022, she won the woman's mono bob event in the 2022 EuroCup, held in Germany. In so doing, she became the first athlete from Africa to win an international sled race. Before competing in skeleton, Adeagbo competed in triple jump, last competing in 2008.
Early life Adeagbo was born in Toronto, in Ontario, Canada, to Nigerian parents. She moved to Ibadan, Nigeria when she was an infant, and lived there for six years before moving to the United States.
Career Adeagbo served as a Nike body double for Serena Williams. Adeagbo is a marketing manager for Nike in South Africa since 2012.
On August 18, 2018, Adeagbo spoke alongside other noteworthy speakers, to a sold-out audience during the TEDxLagos spotlight event at the Muson Centre. She shared the stage with legal practitioner Supo Shasore, Award-winning technologist Ade Olufeko, Art curator Tokini Peterside and media personality Banky W. amongst others.
Sports career Adeagbo started Track and Field competition in highschool. She retired from Track and Field competition in June 2008. At that time, she failed to qualify for the Olympics by 8-inches. She had become a 4-time NCAA All-American, and was the triple jump record holder for the University of Kentucky.
Adeagbo became interested in skeleton in December 2016, when she heard about the Nigeria bobsled team attempting to qualify for the Olympics. She first tried to qualify for that team at tryouts in July 2017, where she had to try in a skeleton sled instead of a bobsled. She started skeleton in September 2017. She became sponsored by her employer, Nike, for skeleton.
Adeagbo competed at her first Olympics at the 2018 Winter Olympics in skeleton, as part of the Nigerian team, becoming the first Nigerian to compete at the Winter Olympics. She was the Nigerian flagbearer at the 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony.
Personal bests Track and field
Event Result Venue DateOutdoor 100 meters 12.05 (wind: +1.7) Baton Rouge, Louisiana 13 May 2000 100 meters 11.96 (wind: +3.1) Coral Gables, Florida 17 Mar 2001 Long jump 6.20 m A (wind: +0.9 m/s) Eugene, Oregon 19 Jun 2004 Long jump 6.36 m A (wind: +4.9 m/s) Austin, Texas 06 Apr 2001 Triple jump 13.99 m A (wind: +2.0 m/s) Eugene, OR 27 Jun 2008Indoor 60 meters 7.59 Lexington 13 Jan 2001 Long jump 6.25 m Nampa, Idaho 28 Jan 2005 Triple jump 13.40 m Seattle 28 Jan 2006
Skeleton
References
External links
Nigerian Bobsled and Skeleton Federation: https://bsfnigeria.com