00:16Track and field is the most simple form of competition. It's you line up and you race. Whoever gets their
00:24first wins.
00:25I always like to run. In recess, I would race. I enjoy racing against the boys and beating the boys.
00:31I was always competitive.
00:32In 2004, that was my first time I ever seen the Olympics. I was like, oh, these people are running
00:37on TV. I didn't know they do that.
00:39And then eventually in high school, I was like, oh, you could have a career. Professional basketball player, be a
00:44professional track athlete.
00:45I kept getting better. I got a scholarship. Next thing you know, I'm at the Olympics.
00:56People always ask me why I ran for the U.S. and not for Nigeria. So my dad came here
01:01in 1978 because he wanted to go to university.
01:04I think he just wanted a better life for his family, like to start a family. I think he had
01:08to have a better life for himself and eventually bring some of his family back over to the United States.
01:14I think being in Nigeria defines me more than being from Texas does.
01:19People always come to the United States for better opportunities. You know, the American dream sort of thing.
01:24This is pictures that my dad sent me from, I guess, when I was little or actually before I was
01:30born.
01:35That's when my mom graduated from nursing school. This is my baptism. This is when I was born, I guess.
01:44So like here, this is my parents' wedding. They were in Nigeria when they got married.
01:49And this is my mom when she got her citizenship. And look, here's me doing it with it. That's me.
01:56It makes me grateful that she was able to accomplish this and do this.
02:00I know it's kind of unfortunate some people maybe not ever be in the same position I am to see
02:06their parents become citizens.
02:07I'm definitely grateful and it's just definitely a blessing that I have that.
02:11Coming from parents that are immigrants, it makes me stronger, more grateful.
02:17It makes me strive because I want to make my parents proud.
02:21Because they come from big families where it's like, you know, they have nothing pretty much.
02:24I'm stronger because of that. Because I know where they come from.
02:28And I know how easily my life could have been way different.
02:32Sports have made me very goal driven. That concept of making goals has translated into my personal life, my regular
02:39life.
02:39Being in sports, being in athletics, it's given me confidence.
02:43I feel like every girl should play sports. I feel like girls need that.
02:48Because sometimes seeing as it's okay to be complacent.
02:51But I think as females, we don't need to be complacent.
02:55We need to be, you know, trying to be the best like the boys do and try to be competitive
02:59like the boys are.
03:01It's a part of my life. 100%.
