Nigerian cyclist competes at the Olympic Games by borrowing a bicycle from German Officials

Nigerian fans were left to marvel, as Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye, a Nigerian cyclist at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics competed without her own bicycle.

The athlete took to social media to appreciate the German authorities for coming to her aid shortly before her event

Ukpeseraye made history as the first Nigerian to participate in the event at the summer games.

Her qualification for the Olympics was hard fought, as she had to excel in three separate cycling events, including one road race and two track cycling competitions.

Bella Naija reports that Giandomenico Massari, president of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, highlighted Nigeria’s qualification for the event as noteworthy.

The Punch also reports that Ukpeseraye, representing Team Nigeria, found herself in a difficult situation when she had no bicycle to race with at the keirin and sprint events due to the short notice of her participation.

The 25-year-old Nigerian athlete narrowly missed out on a podium finish, as she finished 4th in her heat on Wednesday.

Taking to social media to thank the German team for coming to her rescue by offering her a bicycle, Ukpeseraye wrote on X: "Due to the short notice of me competing at the keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks.

"In d spirit of sportsmanship the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have different reactions to the woeful development, setting the post on fire with comments to demand explanation from authorities.