Celebrating Team Nigeria! At 37, Star Table Tennis Player Segun Toriola is the first Nigerian to make Six Consecutive Olympics Appearances

As our Nigerian Athletes compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games, I would be celebrating some of our stars who have worked hard, trained hard and are striving to achieve their very best. At the World Games, they have come to test themselves in healthy competition with athletes from across the world and strive for their personal best daily.

I identify with their courage and wish them the very best as they bring glory to Nigeria. Go for Victory, Team Nigeria!

Nigeria’s table tennis star, Segun Toriola is Africa’s most-decorated table tennis player.

Representing Nigeria in London 2012, this is his consecutive sixth appearance at the Olympics since Barcelona 1992.

In Beijing four years ago, he became the first African so far to make it to the quarter-finals.

Born in Kwara State, Nigeria, Segun Toriola is the last of nine brothers. He plays professionally in France.

Since 1995 he has been ranked as the best Nigerian player. He has been amongst the top table tennis players in Africa since the mid 1990s, ranked number 1 in Africa from 1998 to June 2008.
His fifth Olympic appearance in 2008 made him the first Nigerian man to appear at five Olympics.

During his career, he has won multiple medals in international singles tournaments.  He has a stunning 20 medals of which 14 are gold and he has won the Men’s Singles title on four occasions. At the 1995 All Africa Games in Harare, Zimbabwe, he won the title and four years later, he retained it in Johannesburg. In 2003, he succeeded in Abuja and in 2007, Algeria.

He won his first game on Saturday when he defeated defeated Canada’s Andre Ho 4-1 in the Olympic men’s Table tennis. But sadly, he lost 4-1 to Swedish Persson Jorgen in his second outing of the London 2012 Table Tennis event.

I celebrate the courage and tenacity of Segun who despite several obstacles, is forging ahead to bring glory to Nigeria. In 2010, he had an injury which hindered him from playing for one year.
However, he is back on his feet now and we wish him the very best!

 

Sources: Wikipedia | Goal | Olympique Remois

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