Femi Ogunode - My Father Is My Favourite Sportsman, He Influenced And Mentored Me Into The Sportsman I'm Today (Athlete from Nigeria)

 

As an athlete, my commitment to athletics reflects in my training and how I take care of my body, ranging from my diet which Is absolutely important, we have to fuel our body with the right food and I realise vegan lifestyle has been amazing and affected my performance positively, to nurturing my body with good massage therapy and treatments which helps prevent injuries and taking the adequate rest when necessary. 

1.Tell us about your background and journey.

My name is Femi Ogunode, I am from Ondo state in Nigeria. Growing up, I participated in a few sports such as boxing and football before I became an athlete. I did not get opportunity to represent my birth country due to circumstances, but I got an opportunity to do what I love on a larger scale by representing Qatar. It has been a journey, and I am still on that journey to doing greater things.

2. How did you decide to make your passion your career? Was your family supportive?

I love sports generally, but I am passionate about athletics, though it is a challenging sport I knew right away that I would make a career out of it because the challenges that comes with it keeps me driven and each time I met a target I feel a level of accomplishment that further makes me set another target. 

So it was not much of a decision but more like I knew from the onset that is what I want to do. Yes my family were supportive.

3. Who is your favourite player and what have you learnt from him/her?

From an early age I learn a lot from my dad who was a boxer during his time as a youth so he was and still is my favourite sportsman. He influenced and mentored me into the sportsman I am today. He taught me to be a hard-worker and perseverance. He use to tell me giving up is not an option, I have to keep going no matter the obstacles.

4. What is the level of commitment and time required to make a sport a career?

Though it depends on what sport one plays, but no matter what sport one specialise in we must be fully committed to getting a satisfying result. As an athlete, my commitment to athletics reflects in my training and how I take care of my body, ranging from my diet which Is absolutely important, we have to fuel our body with the right food and I realise vegan lifestyle has been amazing and affected my performance positively, to nurturing my body with good massage therapy and treatments which helps prevent injuries and taking the adequate rest when necessary.

5. How can we encourage more youngsters to take up sports as a full time profession?

I believe there are already many young people interested in sports, I hope we can encourage them with the right and necessary skills they need at any point to further build them up into becoming the better version of themselves, aspire for more and never put a limit on what they can achieve.

6. Which is your favourite book and why?

I am not much of a reader, my books are mostly visual lol. I like watching all kinds of documentaries but mostly about animals and I seem to like David Attenborough documentaries.

- Femi Ogunode (Athlete)

- Interviewed By Kusum Kumari