Chierika Ukogu, a 24-year old United States born Nigerian who is representing Nigeria in the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics, has qualified for the quarter-finals of the rowing event.
Ukogu, who is the first Nigerian to represent the country in rowing, showed excitement after the result was announced.
The athlete, who is also a graduate of Stanford University trained with the US team before the Rio 2016 Olympics, said she was glad to represent Nigeria.
Ukogu progressed to the quarterfinals as one of the automatic qualifiers in her event after finishing 3rd in Heat 5 of the women’s Single Sculls on Saturday, August 6.
The Nigerian clocked a time of 8.35.34 to finish behind Austria’s Magdalena Lobnig (8:26.83) and Miroslava Knapková of the Czech Republic (8:28.90).
The 23-year old, who is making history as the first ever Nigerian to qualify for the Rowing event at the Olympics, placed 15th in the overall standings comprising of 32 rowers. The quarterfinals comes up tomorrow, August 9 from 1.10pm.
