Omolara Ogunmakinju: How Nigerian Athlete Overcame Motherhood Break To Win African Games Gold

• Ogunmakinju won gold in the 4x400m mixed relay at the African Games in Ghana

• She made a remarkable comeback after a five-year break to have two children

• Ogunmakinju’s husband played a crucial role in her successful return to athletics

Eko Hot Blog reports that Quarter miler Omolara Ogunmakinju stole the show at the just-ended African Games in Ghana, but it was not an easy ride to continental glory for the mother of two.

In relay events in Africa, Nigeria stands tall as the undisputed number one country. Sports-loving Nigerians globally and in neighbouring Ghana were eagerly awaiting another golden finish as Team Nigeria’s 4x400m mixed relay team took to the tracks in Accra.

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However, none of the country’s teeming sports lovers envisaged what was to happen during the race. To their dismay, Ogunmakinju found herself trailing Botswana’s Kamberuka Obakeng by 15 metres in the last leg of the race!

“It was the race of her life and Ogunmakinju knew it. With 30m left and still trailing Obakeng, she delivered a masterclass, erasing the 15-metre deficit and overtaking Obakeng in the final 30 metres to power Team Nigeria to a gold medal finish,” the report states.

“Her incredible surge secured Nigeria the gold medal in a blistering time of 3:13.26 and Botswana, despite setting a new national record of 3:13.99, had to settle for silver.”

“I’m very happy. And I give all glory to God for making the hard work pay for me because I was ready for this game, and it’s really paid off,” an overjoyed Ogunmakinju said after the historic race. “It’s teamwork, so an individual has to do his or her best. So, I did my best, and I just kept pushing to the finish line and all glory be to God, I pushed through.”

Ironically, Ogunmakinju is making a return to athletics after the Akure-born 400m specialist took a break from the tracks to get married, start her family and attend to the rigorous task of motherhood.

“After I gave birth to my second baby, I said, ‘what next? Should I be a coach, should I go for something else or what? So, I told myself, ‘I can do it again, just give it a try.’ And from there I started jogging, trying to burn the fat. And glory be to God, as we were making progress I was performing better and you see that I can still do it. That’s how we made it through,” she said.

Her husband, Adeleye Ogunmakinju, a former athlete himself, played a major role in Ogunmakinju’s second coming. “Apart from my office work, I have been assisting coach Ogogo Godwin in training my wife before she travelled to America,” Adeleye buttressed.

“Honestly, however it went, I’ll still be very proud of her, knowing the sacrifices she made, especially after the break she took to start our family. She really worked hard, put in a lot of efforts to get back in shape and was relentless,” he added.

Ogunmakinju, who turns 31 on May 25, has been able to balance motherhood and sports to maximum effect. “Everything is scheduled, you have to schedule your work; wake up earlier and do the things you need to do at the right time and when you are back from the track, you face your family. When you are on the track you face it. You rest the little time you have to rest,” she explained.

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With her incredible comeback and African Games heroics, Ogunmakinju proves that nothing is impossible. “With God all things are possible, nothing’s impossible, once we can work as a team, definitely we’ll meet the standard. I’m going to keep pushing till I reach the finish line,” she said.

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