Nigerian skeleton racer and trailblazer, Simidele Adeagbo, has once again etched her name in the history books, making Nigeria’s debut at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, over the weekend.
Competing in the women’s monobob event, the 43-year-old secured two top-25 finishes, placing 23rdin both races on Friday and Saturday.
While the podium remained out of reach, Adeagbo celebrated the historic moment of representing Nigeria on the global stage.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Adeagbo shared her pride and gratitude:
“Africa’s Sleigh Queen is leaving St. Moritz with two top-25 World Cup finishes,” she wrote.
“Grateful for the growth with each race. This weekend marked Nigeria’s debut on the World Cup stage, and it’s an honour to represent my country and continue pushing things forward in the sport.”
Top Competitors and Standings
The races in St. Moritz were dominated by Elana Taylor, USA’s bobsleigh pilot and Olympic silver medalist, who clinched victory in both monobob events.
Meanwhile, the overall IBSF World Cup standings see Germany’s Lisa Buckwitz leading with 1,253 points, followed by compatriot Laura Nolte (1,171) and Australia’s Breeana Walker (1,146).
The season heads next to Lillehammer, Norway, in February for the final races.
A Career of Firsts
Simidele Adeagbo has become synonymous with breaking barriers:
In 2018, she became Africa’s first female skeleton athlete and finished 20th at the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
In 2022, Adeagbo made history again as the first African athlete to win an international sledge race, claiming gold in the monobob event at the EuroCup.
She also became the first African bobsleigh athlete to compete at the IBSF World Championships in its 100-year history, finishing in the top 20 during her debut at the 2024 BMW IBSF World Championship in Winterberg, Germany.
Pushing Boundaries in Winter Sports
Adeagbo, a former triple jumper, has been blazing the trail for Nigerian and African representation in winter sports since she became active in 2017.
Her journey from track and field to the icy tracks of skeleton and bobsleigh speaks of her relentless determination to challenge stereotypes and expand the horizons for African athletes in traditionally Eurocentric sports.
