Tell us about yourself.
My name is Tony Osheku Junior. My family is into sports, basically track and field. My dad (Tony Osheku) was an athletics coach, and my mum, Falilat Ogunkoya, represented Nigeria in athletics for many years. I am currently based in the United States.
How much influence did your mother have on your career choice?
Growing up and seeing my mother representing Nigeria as an athlete, I always wanted to be like her. Whenever I watched her races and how she ran so well, I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps, and like her, my goal is to one day participate in the Olympics. I am the only son and I am following in her footsteps. I am currently training and trying to pursue a professional career in track and field. She and my father have really been supportive of me to pursue this career path.
What are some of the values you have learnt from your mother?
My mother taught me to be hard working. She instilled that in me from my childhood days. She always tells me nothing good comes easy, that she did not get to the top of her career by messing around. She worked hard. She tells me all the time, that for me to be the best and run faster, I have to work hard.
How does it feel to be a son to such a famous Nigerian sports icon?
It feels so good for me to have a mother that is looked up to by many people in Nigeria and in sports circles. I remember when I was growing up, whenever I went to school; I was seen as a mini-celebrity, because my schoolmates would always say, ‘Oh, your mum is Falilat Ogunkoya!’ I’m really proud to be her son.
What do you think of your mum’s achievement as a top national athlete for many years?
I think her achievement and records speak volumes about her. We know what she had done in track and field as a whole in Nigeria. How she, alongside other athletes who completed her time, uplifted the sports. They did a good job.
From her successes in athletics, what are the most memorable moments for you; and which event do you cherish most?
The most memorable moment for me would be when I watched the videos of the finals of her races from the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, where she won a bronze medal in the 400m race and a silver medal in the 4 x 400m relay. Watching these videos always gives me goose bumps. Sometimes, I watch it with my friends, and for me, it is always a surreal feeling. I’m sometimes moved to tears watching those races because I know how hard she worked to get to that point in her career.
Do you get any special privileges being Falilat Ogunkoya’s son?
I wouldn’t say I get special privileges, but I do get a lot of favours from people because of her name. For example, whenever I am in Nigeria, people want to help me. Also, because my mother has a lot of contacts in Nigeria, things are easier for me whenever I am there.
How has your mother’s name opened doors for you?
Her name has opened doors for me in many ways. I remember when the Glo marathon event was being held. I used to have the privilege of going to the main stage where there were celebrities and stars performing, because my mum is a sports celebrity. Also, in track and field, whenever I wanted to get a shot to run at trials or similar events, it is always easier for me to do that because of my parents.
Beyond being a famous Nigerian sportswoman, how would you describe her as a mother?
She is the best mother in the world. Right now, I am here in the US while she is in Nigeria, but she always calls me to check up on me, making sure I am fine. She always ensures I do not lack anything, that I am working hard in school, facing my studies, not doing the wrong thing or threading on a wrong path. She is always there for me.
Some people have described your mother as Nigeria’s best female quarter-miler, do you agree?
Definitely, she is the best Nigerian female quarter-miler, because what she did for the sports is huge. She represented and won medals for Nigeria at the Olympics and several other international competitions. Also, she had represented Nigeria excellently at the World Junior Athletics Championships, in the 200m and the 400m, and she was regarded as one of the best in the world then. I think she won the first track and field medal for Nigeria at the 1996 Olympics when she won bronze. Of course, Chioma Ajunwa won gold in the long jump. My mother ran 49.10 secs, which is still an African record till today. In 1998, I think she was ranked number one in the world in the 400m. She took it to a whole new level. She does deserve that accolade as the best quarter-miler Nigeria has ever had. In her time, there were other 400m athletes like Bisi Afolabi, Charity Opara, Fatima Yusuf. They are all phenomenal athletes, but I would have to give my mother the edge on this one.
What are some things Nigerians don’t know about your mother that you can share?
She is a really cool person. She likes to hang out with friends or have them come over, and she organises cookouts. She is also a very generous person.
How would you describe her social life?
She does have a good social life. She loves watching Yoruba movies a lot. She always pays attention to track and field events, watching track meets around the world, and making sure she stays updated on events. She loves watching tennis too. She likes watching Serena Williams.
Who are some of her closest friends?
I know she has close friends in the track and field world. I also know she has some close friends that are just regular people.
What did she tell you about her time as one of Nigeria’s best athletes?
She told me that being one of Nigeria’s best athletes did not come easy; that it took a lot of hard work to get to that level. It was not an easy job but she got it done.
Your mother won silver in the 4×400 relay (women) and bronze in the 400m during the Atlanta 1996. What did she tell you about those feats and how much they meant to her?
She told me about the 1996 Olympics 4 x 400m women relay race and how close they were to winning the gold medal. I felt Nigeria should have won the gold medal. They had a great team, but they just did not win gold. But the fact that she and her teammates won a silver medal was huge, and on an individual basis, she won a bronze medal in the 400m for Nigeria. She is really happy about that.
What does she say about the state of the Nigerian athletics today?
I do not even have to ask her to know the state of the Nigerian athletics today. We all know it is not doing well at all. The Rio Olympics just started and some Nigerian athletes allegedly had to get their own funding themselves to go to the Olympics. Nigeria athletics is not going in the right direction. The authorities need to find a way out and help change things for the better. That is why Nigerian athletes are opting to represent other countries that support them and help them achieve their goals.
What are her expectations interms of performance of Nigeria’s team to Rio Olympics?
I haven’t had a chance to ask her about what she feels about Nigeria’s chances at Rio yet. But I do not think anyone has high expectations for Nigeria in Rio 2016, but I know a few athletes in the team who might be able to get a medal for Nigeria at the Olympics.
Your mother is still the African record holder in 400m with 49.10sec set at Atlanta 1996. Does she think this record would be broken in a few years and who does she think could do it?
I talked to her about it sometime ago. For sure, she would like to see someone break the African record she set, and she would like the person to be a Nigerian. I know she always talked about US-based Nigerian, Regina George. I also feel she (George) has the ability to break the record; she just has to keep working hard. In a few years’ time, I think she would be able to break the African record.
Your mum has won several medals nationally, continentally and internationally, which one(s) is/are her most treasured?
It has to be the bronze and silver medals from the 1996 Olympics. Those are the biggest ones for her. Everyone wants to perform well at the Olympics, which is the biggest competition for track and field, athletes.
Did you ever watch her run at any athletics events? If yes, can you describe the feeling and experience?
Yes, I was born in the 1990s in the US when my mother was just finishing college in Mississippi State. She had a track and field scholarship. When she gave birth to me, she took about a year break from running. So, I was privileged to go for some of her track meets, like the Mobil Track and Field trials in Nigeria where she ran the 400m. Those were memorable moments for me. I was still quite young during the 1996 Olympics but every time I watch it, it feels surreal. I love watching her races almost every time.
Which of her races is your favourite and why?
My favourite would probably be the 4x400m relay final at the 1996 Olympics. The US team was in front and Nigeria was behind them in second; and the gap was about 30-40 metres. She ran the last leg for Nigeria’s team; she closed the gap and tried so much to catch the US athlete, Jearl Miles-Clark, in front of her. Oh, I wish she did. That is one of my most memorable. I love watching that race.
Your mother has achieved many milestones in her career as an athlete. What are her future plans?
Her future plan is to be more involved in the sport by helping young athletes grow. She wants to be able to give them advice on how they can be the best. Nigeria athletics has not been faring well lately. The country needs people like her to talk to our athletes and maybe supervise training camps and show the athletes how they can be the best in their field.
How does she create time for family?
She does create time. I visit her whenever I come to Nigeria, and she comes to visit me in the US. And of course, she is always calling me almost every day on the telephone. She likes to spend time with her family.
What is your mum’s favourite drink?
I think she basically likes water, as an athlete. Whenever I am in Nigeria and I take soda, she does not want me too. She would say I should take water instead or the sports energy drink or the diluted one that does not contain much sugar.
How does she like to dress?
She likes to wear fancy shoes and nice clothes and so on. She likes to dress well.
How did she discipline you whenever you erred?
She likes to advise me instead. She has been through the stages of life and has lived in the US for over 20 years, so she knows the rules and how everything works here, more than I do. And she does a good job in this area.
How does she react when she’s angry?
She just talks about what annoyed her. She would explain why and purge her mind of it.
What is her favourite meal?
I think she likes eba.
How would you describe her relationship with your father?
My mum and dad are really close. I know that for sure. They usually talk a lot, and also about Nigeria’s track and field and how they could help to change it.
What is her view about Nigeria’s athletics today?
She said Nigeria’s athletics has really gone down unlike during her days. She said she would like it to be rebuilt. She told me there were lot of other great athletes during her time, like Fatima Yusuf, Charity Opara, Mary Onyali, the Ezinwa brothers and so on. Then, she said Nigeria always had representatives in the 100m, 200m, and 400m of major finals like the Olympics. But it is not so nowadays.
Your mother is part of a golden generation of Nigerian athletes that excelled globally. What do you think should be her legacy as a national sports icon?
In the US, we see the way they treat their athletes, including those who have retired. Some of them work for the US track and field, helping out other young athletes. I think Nigeria needs to do more to respect and recognise her sports icons, not just those in football. Someone like my mother can be brought in to get involved in helping young Nigerian athletes improve.
In what ways has she been mentoring and grooming young athletes to follow in her footsteps?
Every year, she organises a 400m competition in Nigeria. She awards scholarships to the top three to study in the US.
What is she most fulfilled about and does she have any regrets about her career?
She has no regrets about her career. She always tells me she gave her all and did everything she could possibly do in track and field. She is happy with the way it ended.
Copyright PUNCH.
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