Nigerian track and field athlete, Blessing Okagbare, speaks about her childhood, career and marriage
Did you have a silver-spoon upbringing?
Growing up was difficult because I
wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I was a tomboy since I grew
up among boys. Life was tough; we didn’t have everything in the world
but I remained focused, especially on my studies. I am the last child
and I have two siblings. I grew up with my dad because my parents
separated when I was quite young. They were already divorced by the time
my mum passed away 11 years ago. I didn’t know anything about it
because I was young. I was raised in a polygamous home; two wives, and
11 children.
Were you single-handedly raised by your dad?
Yes, I was. My dad was a wholesale
trader; he used to travel to Benin, where he sold goods but he barely
had enough money to make ends meet. The market where he traded was
always destroyed by fire and that made life difficult for us.
Why didn’t you choose to live with your mother?
My siblings and I chose to go with our
dad. I recall my mum coming to my dad’s shop and I innocently got up to
attend to her. Some people around were like ‘That’s your mum’ and she
began to cry. I was about 11 years old at the time; she left before I
turned two, so I never really knew her.
Did she try to reconcile with your dad?
No, she did not because she already had another family.
What helped you to become the woman you are today?
I have always had my siblings; I have a
brother and a sister. My grandmother practically raised and trained me
to become a strong woman. She loved me unconditionally and I love her as
well. She told me that I am a special child because my mum was
delivered of me after 11 months of pregnancy.
What schools did you attend?
I attended Zik Grammar School, Sapele. I
couldn’t attend university immediately because my dad said he couldn’t
afford the tuition. I had to stay at home for two years. My brother saw
to it that I was admitted to a polytechnic. I was about rounding off my
Ordinary National Diploma programme when I got a scholarship to attend a
university in America.
Is your father alive?
Yes, he’s 77. I feel he is now more involved in my activities, but I’m fine with my brother and sister.
At what stage in life did you realise that you were born to run?
I became interested in running at a
young age. I was good at high jump and I played soccer a lot. Even
though I was good at soccer, I did not want to play soccer
professionally because I felt I would look too masculine if I did. I
also felt I was too cute to play soccer.
How long do you wish to run for?
Nike sponsors me and athletics
is the career I have settled for. I don’t know how many more years I
really want to continue running for. I have not taken any break, and
people don’t realise that I go harder on myself each year. I may take a
break and come back hopefully before 2020.
How will you rate your performance at the Rio Olympics?
It didn’t feel like an Olympic Games for
me and that is not because I didn’t win a medal. This was my third
Olympics. At previous ones, the team was in high spirits but this year,
the morale was just low. Rio Olympics was our worst outing ever.
How would you describe your personality?
I am blunt and I hate injustice. I can
also be quite emotional because I know how hard athletics can be. I’m
very passionate and dedicated to the sport.
How did you meet your husband?
I had known him for many years before I
left Nigeria and we have been married for two years. He is the
definition of a true gentleman and I would never ask for a better
person. If you get to meet him, you will realise that he is a man of
very few words. I had to let go of certain traits when I met him. He is a
God-fearing person and this is an uncommon trait in a lot of men today.
He contributes to the advancement of my career in several ways. Now I
have a shoulder to cry on. That’s a good thing about having a partner;
it’s not just about love. You need someone who will stand for you and
support you all the way.
Did you deliberately set out to marry a sportsman?
I would have married someone outside
sports if he met the requirements that God had set for my future
husband. I had a lot of suitors but my husband was different.
How do you cope with fame?
I don’t act like Blessing Okagbare the
star athlete. I don’t really think money and fame can ever change me. I
have the fear of God and I think that keeps me level-headed. I love
cooking and my husband calls me his personal chef. My reserved nature
surprises people. I also love keeping our home tidy. My husband even
jokes about the fact that we can’t hire a cook or housekeeper because I
am thoroughly domesticated.
Do you like fashion?
I’m a little fashionista. I try to take
regular make-up tutorials. I love transforming my looks after every
season. I will not wear jeans because I love girly dresses. After each
season, I tend to lose a lot of weight. After wearing sweatpants for
seven months, I take one month of my break to dress well.
If you were not into sports, what career path would you have settled for?
I would either have been a lawyer or a
banker. My dad would have wanted me to go into modelling.
Notwithstanding, my passion for athletics has kept me going on strong.
When do you plan to start a family?
We will when we are ready and in God’s time.
What advice will you give to young ladies who aspire to be like you?
They need to stay focused and realise
their passion early enough. It requires a lot of energy and
perseverance. You have to just take a deep breath and stay focused. Your
passion has to drive you to that point where it can overshadow your
breaking point. A lot of people drive me crazy, but the love I have for
what I do, keeps me happy.
How do you handle sexual harassment in your field?
I am smart and cautious. I am also of
the opinion that if you don’t lean towards something, it will not come
to you. Every female athlete can ward off sexual harassment if they mean
to. I don’t understand why a married man will not be satisfied with his
wife. Sexual harassment is very wrong but at the same time, I feel both
parties have to actually agree for it to occur.
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