Biography
Started: She took up Para athletics in 2011 in Edo State, Nigeria. (Athlete, 11 Nov 2019)
Reason: She was introduced to Para sports when she was at school. She was first introduced to Para powerlifting and Para table tennis but later switched to Para athletics. "I wanted to prove there is ability in disability." (premiumtimesng.com, 04 Dec 2021; Athlete, 11 Nov 2019)
Ambition: To win gold and set a world record at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (premiumtimesng.com, 04 Dec 2021)
Awards: In 2021 she received the Disability Sports Person of the Year award at Project Enable Africa's Disability Inclusion and Leadership [DIAL] Awards. (Project Enable Africa Facebook page, 03 Dec 2021)
Additional Info: OTHER ROLES
In 2023 she was elected as second vice president of the Nigerian Paralympic Committee. (vanguardngr.com, 20 May 2023)
HUSBAND'S SUPPORT
She credits the role of her husband Ekurede Charles Osaretin in her career. He quit his job in order to help her train. "As the saying goes, 'Behind every successful man is a woman', but for me behind every successful woman is a man. My husband did everything for me to be happy. When he noticed the challenges I was facing, as I was being sidelined for athletes I was better than, he quit his job and started training with me. He wasn't into sports but things worked out well when we started working together." (brila.net, 12 Feb 2021)
OUT OF COMPETITION
After the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she won gold, she did not compete again at international level until the 2019 Grand Prix event in Tunis, Tunisia. She also did not compete internationally between the 2019 World Championships and 2021, and she says a lack of funding was partly the reason for her time away from competition. "For someone to stay away from international competition for two years is not good. But all this talk of no money isn't helping. The worst part is that there is no endorsement, because if we had endorsements, the companies would be the ones sponsoring us for these competitions." (makingofchamps.com, 08 Mar 2021)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderFemale
Birth DateJune 26, 1984
Place of ResidenceBENIN CITY
OccupationAthlete
EducationAccounting - Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
Languages SpokenEnglish
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 1 | Javelin Throw - F54 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 19.39 |
| 1 | Javelin Throw - F54 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 20.25 |
| 6 | Shot Put - F54 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 6.59 |
| 6 | Discus Throw - F55 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.03 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 2 | Javelin Throw - F54 | 2024 | Kobe, JPN | 19.33 |
| 2 | Javelin Throw - F54 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 18.38 |
| 5 | Shot Put - F54 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 6.20 |
| 5 | Discus Throw - F55 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 19.27 |
| 6 | Shot Put - F54 | 2024 | Kobe, JPN | 6.75 |
| 6 | Shot Put - F54 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 6.84 |
| 13 | Discus Throw - F55 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 15.84 |
