I want to be an Olympic champion – Omojaro

Jeremiah Omojaro (right) flanked by 2012 London Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich

In this interview with Saheed Afolabi, budding athlete, Jeremiah Omojaro talked about why he decided to stick to track and field event instead of football or basketball. Excerpts:

Why did you decide to be an athlete when most kids prefer to be footballers while growing up?

My name is Jeremiah Omojaro. Actually I grew up playing the beautiful game of football in the street of Lagos and I was naturally faster than my mates. I also played basketball where I was physically outstanding and very hard to mark because of my towering height. So, I combined both basketball and football together by playing both most of the time. I actually fell in love with athletics when I watched a particular track and field event on TV in the late 90s and I got inspired by the way Marion Jones did multiple events which made me fall in love with the tracks and ever since I have not looked back.

At what age did you develop interest in athletics?

At age 10 but my primary school didn’t assist me much on it. It was when I got to secondary school that my skills were ironed through competitions and inter-house sports which were always held at the school.

Did you win any award in track and field event in your secondary school?

Yes, I emerged champion consistently in the long jump, triple jump, discus throw, 1500m and 800m marathon race in my junior secondary school and I also dominated the Sprint in my senior years in school. Command Day Secondary Schools organised a bi-annual sport event called inter-command secondary school and Nigeria military games where I also won gold medal in the 4×400m relay race and bronze medal in the 800m race in 2008 which was my last medal in secondary school.

How many athletics championships have you won?

I have been to nine athletics championships and I have won a total of 15 medals in Nigerian military games, inter-command secondary school games, redeemed junior church athletics championship, Lagos State secondary school games and Nigerian private universities games as well as Lagos State festival trial.

What is your area of specialisation in track and field?

For now, I specialise in 800metre race.

What is your ambition in life?

To be an Olympic champion comes next year at the Tokyo Olympic Games by the grace of God.

Are your parents supportive of your career in athletics?

No, they have not been supportive, but you have to decide what you want to be with yourself and make sure you are successful to prove them wrong.

Can you tell us about your educational background?

I finished my primary school in 2003. I attended Command Day Secondary School, Oshodi and graduated in 2009. I proceeded to study Economics at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakejiin, Osun State and graduated in 2015.

Have you ever participated in any national trials?

I participated in the 2019 national trials for All Africa Games in Rabat, Morocco and World Championship in Doha Qatar.

What are you doing presently to keep fit?

I’m presently training at a high altitude in Kapchorwa Uganda since February where I was training for the Olympics before the pandemic hit the world and I am still training there.

Who is your mentor?

That is late Adu Uremu, he was my coach and former Nigerian International in the 90s. I am going to miss him because he died recently during a brief illness. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace!