Eke looks to future after failure to advance in Olympics

Nigeria’s first gymnast at the Tokyo Olympics, Uche Eke, says he has taken his dashed dream as it came and will be looking to what the future holds for him.

Eke’s dream of an Olympic medal ended prematurely on Saturday after he failed to qualify for the final of the artistic gymnastics event at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo.

Supreme reports that Nigeria presented in Eke a gymnast at the Olympics for the first time since since 1952 when it started participating at the Games.

Eke, while speaking moments after the event, expressed mixed reactions, saying while he was disappointed not to have made the top eight, he was happy to have gained the experience.

“The competition as a whole was a great experience and I am so excited that I had the chance to participate.

“I went through a long process and hard work to get here and I am so happy that I had the chance to show off a bit.

“The competition didn’t go how I would have wanted it to but you win some, you lose some. That’s how life is and I am used to that.

“For some it was their best day ever and for others it wasn’t,” he said.

Eke however said his plan now was to get back to training, work harder and “figure things out”.

“I lost this one but I won’t lose the next one,” he said.