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Nigeria’s first African games gold medalist in gymnastics Uche Eke has set another record, as he just became the first Nigerian to qualify for the Olympics in gymnastics, at the keenly contested African Championships recently held in Cairo, Egypt.

Uche Eke, First Nigerian Olympian

He qualified alongside compatriots like Omar Mohammed from Egypt and Nareen Daries from South Africa. Prior to this, he won Nigeria’s first-ever gold medal on pommel horse and a bronze medal on parallel bars at the 2019 All-Africa Games in Rabat, Morocco.

Uche Eke, First Nigerian Olympian

Uche Eke is not just a great athlete but also a scholar! The 23-year old computer science graduate is the University of Michigan 2021 Margaret Mann awardee. This May, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan School of Information (4.0 GPA).

Uche Eke, First Nigerian Olympian
Uche Eke, First Nigerian gymnast Olympian receiving his medal

With this qualification, Uche is one step closer to achieving his dream of becoming the first African to win a gold medal in gymnastics. Uche will represent Nigeria at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, postponed to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uche Eke, First Nigerian Olympian receiving his medal

On this Sunday’s episode of CNN African Voices, Uche Eke shared that “love and passion are the reason he is competing to win for his dear motherland.”

Now as Nigerians, we have an athlete to cheer to victory during the TOKYO 2020 Olympics. Connect with Uche and support him on Instagram @uchemantellem

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