Being billed as “Cool Runnings” reloaded in the West
African country’s first Winter Games appearance, Seun Adigun and Akuoma Omeoga
knelt in silent prayer Wednesday before hurtling down the track at breakneck
speeds they know could kill them.
“The
first time I got in a sled it was honestly terrifying,” driver Seun told AFP in
an interview after training.
“The
only thing that saved my peace of mind was that I used to be a gamer, so
initially I just treated it like a video game,” added the bubbly 31-year-old,
who represented Nigeria as a hurdler at the 2012 London Olympics.
“That
kind of helps dampen the fear because when you get in a sled you really don’t
know exactly what’s going to happen.
“We
also pray! If there’s a ritual that we do that’s what it is.”
“Of course you have to think about the dangers,” said the
Texas-based Seun, who invited fellow runners Akuoma and Ngozi Onwumere to
compete in the two-man bobsleigh in September 2016.
“You
have to accept it and embrace it before you can actually apply what you need to
protect yourself.
“It’s
a ripping run of speed and being jolted around and sucked down into the bottom
of the sled, whether it’s head first or bum first – you roll with the punches,”
she chuckled.
“It’s
very similar to being thrown down a hill in a trash can – you just don’t really
know where you’ll end up sometimes.”
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