Hammer thrower Annette Echikunwoke says she has just scracthed the surface of what she is capable of delivering as she gets set to make her Olympic debut for Nigeria.
The 25 year old will be making history as the first Nigerian, man or woman to compete in the hammer throw at the Olympics.
She is also the first and only Nigerian nay African woman to hit the 70m mark in the event and she has hit the mark and above six times this year alone.
The 2017 NCAA champion for the University of Cincinnati says she is still in dreamland. While she may have recorded some of her best throws this year, she said there’s much more left in the tank.
“I’m not done yet,” she told the Business Journal.
Interestingly, Echikunwoke, now ranked seventh best in the world so far this year going to the Olympics never dreamt of competing in track and field beyond her University days.
“When I was nearing the end of my collegiate athletic career, I was pretty adamant about not wanting to throw post-collegiately,” she added. “I didn’t want to feel obligated to continue. But as time went on, God softened my heart to the idea. This goal of making it to the Olympics goes beyond me.”
Echikunwoke works as a search associate at an advertising and marketing agency and only practices after work late in the afternoon.
“My practices take place in the late afternoon, going until sunset/evening,” Echikunwoke said. “I find myself looking to the sunset, and I can’t help but be reminded of God’s grace over my life. It’s a visible reminder that God is with me through this journey.