Niger rower Hamadou Djibo Issaka only learned how to row three months ago – yesterday the 35 year old finished dead last in his heat of the Men’s Single Sculls with a time of 8:25.56.
Issaka was over a minute slower than the El Salvadorian rower who was second last and has already earned several nicknames: “Issaka the Otter” and “Hamadou The Keel” have been tossed around by the media.
Former British Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave has written to the rowing governing body, criticising the presence of Issaka.
“You’ve got to be encouraging more countries to get involved but there are better scullers from different countries who are not allowed to compete because of the different countries you’ve got” – Redgrave’s comments following the race.
However, Djibo Issaka received a wildcard entry, and therefore was not taking the place of another athlete.
It reignites the debate – are these athletes on the threshold of the sport making a mockery of the Games? Does it spit on the Olympic motto of swifter, higher, stronger?
Well, really we need to acknowledge the magnitude of the effort Djibo Issaka produced, and put it in context.
Niger is a country where the incentive to compete as an athlete is bound by a distinct luck of funding. Niger is land-locked and four-fifths desert, hardly ideal for rowing. You can never underestimate the success in water-sports from land-locked nations, such as Switzerland in the 2003 America’s Cup.
Niger sent six athletes to the 2012 London Games, all 6 marched in the opening ceremony. Djibo Issaka was advised not to attend the opening ceremony due to his race being on the following day.
Issaka chose to honour his people and attend.He arrived in Eton Dorney (the home of rowing for the games) at 3a.m., only a hours before his race.
Meanwhile, numerous athletes that were to compete in the afternoon of Saturday still skipped the Opening Ceremony.
After finishing his race, a smile was present on the face of Issaka. It was a rare moment of a joy; if not for the games, he would lead a largely insignificant life back in Niger.
These athletes may not match their American, Chinese or Russian counterparts on the water or on the track, but in the face of adversity they have had to go through just to get to the Olympics, they have inspired their nation, and not just for the few minutes they compete.
Paul
Guest
I heard James Brayshaw say he was from Nigeria - was it a slip of the tongue or is he a genuine boofhead?
Johnno
Guest
And also how can a sport spread globally with attitudes like this. Happy the rowing bodies have given steve redgrave a hosing down too. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2180802/London-2012-Olympics-Sir-Steve-Redgrave-rapped-complaining-Djibo-Issaka.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Johnno
Guest
-Oh put a sock in it Sir Steve Redgrave. And lighten up, your world records or Olympic games medals records will not be threatened chill out haven't you got anything better or more constructive to do than pick on this guy a vulnerable athlete in a sports sense. And have a heart too, and have a bit of fun and chill out. We know he has not anywhere near the talant in rowing as you nor does his coutnry have much money for Olympic funding nothing like the privileges that you have got in funding because of your talant and being from a western nation. But lighten up Sir Steve Redgave and have a heart, and lighten up it won't diminish the standard of sport he wont be competing in the final , only in the heats so chill out, and do something better with your time at the Olympics , starting with enjoying it it is in your home country sit back and enjoy it, they will be over in 2 weeks for another 4 years. The Olympics one of there words or phrases that often is used is celebrate Humanity. Humanity comes in all forms and the Olympics is no 1 about money making, but also it does push a lot of political messages too, and other issues like human rights, but also the issue of celebrating humanity in all it's forms. We have the paralympics that celebrate also disabled people. -We all knew he was not going to win just like eric the eagle, but it brings in tv ratings watching the athletes or competitors who won't win a medal. And each country can send a competitor often in any event. And yes we know he will get knocked out in his heat, and not win gold but so what. The olympics is not just about steven redgrave, micheal jordan, serge bubka, stef rice, dawn friseur, carl lewis, it is about athletes like this who just spread the mssage of peace and participation and celebrating humanity in all it's standards like amateur soccer players in the park on the weekend. So put in a sock in it Sir Steven Redgrave great rower but you are not perfect at everything , you are a human being too. -Some favourite Olympic heroes who were there to inspire all us amateurs int he world which are the majority of people. -Eddy the Eagle Edwards winter Olympics - This Hamadou Djibo Issaka Rower -Eddy the Eagle swimmer at sydney 2000 -Jamaican bobsled team they made a movie about it cool runnings -Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong nicknamed the snow leopard. A ghana skier who competed at Vancouver