Rio is a dream come true for Offiong

Edem Offiong will never want to remember what she had to endure to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. She described the experience as the worst in her career.
Aside being the favourite to qualify in Sudan, where the final continental qualifiers took place, Offiong was ahead of most of the competitors considering her rating and record.
Having featured in two Olympic Games – Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 – she is hoping for the best in Rio. But what would make her not to forget Rio was the way she had to qualify.
From the first day of the two-day Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Offiong was restless and could not sleep for hours at night as the threat of not making it to Rio reverberated in her brain.
She said: “I would not want to remember my experience in Sudan because from the first day of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, I could not sleep as I was always thinking about the matches I would play.
“Even when I got to the table, I was a bit nervous. I think my quarterfinal match against Algeria’s Islem Laid was the most difficult for me in Sudan.
“I don’t think Laid has ever given me any threat in all our meetings but I just realised that I was nervous in the match and before I could realise it she was leading 2-0.
“But the pep talk from Segun Toriola who acted as my coach really calmed me. So I was able to comport myself and finish the match.
“The semifinal and final matches were easy but the tie against Laid was the toughest in my career.
“Unlike previous Olympic Games where I had to qualify through the African Games, qualifying for Rio is one of the greatest achievements.”
Offiong is not too happy with the preparation of Team Nigeria for Rio but she is determined to make a mark.
“I am not really happy with the kind of preparation of Nigeria for the Olympic Games but personally I am training three hours every day hoping that my best will be enough for me in Brazil.
“I have not gone beyond the preliminary but I hope I can make it to the main draw this year.”
The 2011 African Games women singles champion believes the Olympic Games is the biggest stage for every athlete, and she would cherish every moment in Brazil.
“It is the dream of every athlete to compete at the Olympic Games and it is not everybody that makes it to the Games. So for me the Olympic Games is the biggest competition in the world as it brings athletes all across the world together.
“It is the only event that gives athletes the opportunity to mix with athletes from different sports. So making it to my third Olympic Games is a dream come true and I will forever cherish it.”