Inspired by their determination, Visa helps pave the way to
PyeongChang for this group of Olympic hopefuls
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Visa (NYSE:V) today announced the addition of three athletes who make up
the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team to Team Visa, currently training to
become the first ever African representatives, men or women, to qualify
for the Olympic Winter Games in the sport of Bobsled. Together, Bobsled
pilot Seun Adigun, and brakemen Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga,
combine their elite track backgrounds to chase their bobsled dreams.
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Visa Welcomes the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team to Team Visa for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. From left to right: brakeman Ngozi Onwumere, pilot Seun Adigun, and brakeman Akuoma Omeoga. (Photo: Business Wire)
Without access to proper training equipment or valuable ice time to
perfect their skills, the members of the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team
started their journey on the snow-less grounds of Houston, Texas, in a
wooden sled they nicknamed ‘The Maeflower.’ Once the team set their
sights on the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, they established a
crowdfunding website hoping to raise the much-needed funds to get to
PyeongChang. Upon discovering the page, Visa was inspired by their story
and determination to carve out a place in history and pledged to help
solidify the team’s trip to the Olympic Winter Games.
“When we first heard their story we recognized the collective spirit of
these athletes as a perfect fit for Team Visa,” said Chris Curtin, chief
brand and innovation marketing officer at Visa. “By joining Team Visa,
we hope to provide this group of determined athletes with a global stage
to tell their story and inspire athletes all over the world to follow
their dreams and never give up.”
The athleticism and determination of each member of the Nigerian Women’s
Bobsled Team is palpable, as they push to rewrite history in their sport:
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Seun Adigun (Nigeria, Bobsled Driver): Adigun represented
Nigeria in the 100m hurdles at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Wanting
to get back on the Olympic stage, she began training for bobsled in
2014.
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Ngozi Onwumere (Nigeria, Bobsled Breakmen): Onwumere, a former
competitive sprinter, clinched a Silver and Gold medal at the 2015
African Games in Republic of the Congo in the 200m and 4x100m relay,
respectively. Onwumere started training after being recruited by
Adigun in 2016.
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Akuoma Omeoga (Nigeria, Bobsled Breakmen): Omeoga is a graduate
of the University of Minnesota where she was a sprinter for the
university’s track and field team, competing in the 100m and 200m
races. The Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 will be the first
time she is representing Nigeria.
“Already the support and encouragement we have felt as part of Team Visa
has been a dream come true,” said Seun Adigun, driver of the Nigerian
Women’s Bobsled Team. “We are proud to be part of a team that shares our
mission and has connected us with the resources we needed to reach our
goal, and hopefully empower others to do the same.”
Since the program began in 2000, Team Visa has supported over 400
Olympic and Paralympic Athletes and hopefuls by providing them with the
tools, resources and support they need to reach their highest potential,
regardless of origin or background. Team Visa features a diverse group
of Olympic and Paralympic athletes who embody our core values –
acceptance, partnership and innovation – and was cultivated with the
global reach of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in mind.
The women of the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team joins Team Visa’s diverse
roster of athletes, which includes: Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), Chloe
Kim (USA), Gus Kenworthy (USA), Hilary Knight (USA), Oksana
Masters (USA), Mark McMorris (Canada), Lee Sang-Hwa (South
Korea), Kamil Stoch (Poland) and others.
For additional information on Team Visa, follow along at @VisaNews on
Twitter and visit www.visa.com.
About Visa Inc.
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our
mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable
and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and
economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet,
provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable
of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The
company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid
growth of connected commerce on any device, and a driving force behind
the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world
moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products,
people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more
information, visit usa.visa.com/aboutvisa, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115005320/en/
Source: Visa Inc.