Nigerian 400m star Patience Okon George has revealed that choosing athletics over her initial dream of playing football remains the best decision of her life.
Speaking at the national trials for the upcoming Commonwealth Games held in Lagos State, the veteran Olympian reflected on the pivotal moment that completely redirected her athletic career.
The multiple-time African champion admitted that football was actually her first love before she ever seriously considered the track.
“At first, running on the track was not my goal because I was playing football while also doing athletics,” she said.
Her strong passion for football eventually forced her secondary school coach, Ogunike, to step in and give her a strict ultimatum.
“It got to a point when I was living with Coach Ogunike while I was in secondary school. One day, I was at the football field when he called me and asked, ‘Patience, which event do you want to choose?’ I told him I loved football and wanted to choose it. He then said if football was my choice, I should return to my family. So I packed my things and went home because football was my main goal then. I also noticed that whenever I trained on the track, it drained my strength immensely.”
After a temporary separation, the coach visited her school and later convinced her father to make her give the track another chance.
“One day, he came to my school and told me to return to athletics. He even apologised, but I refused. He later spoke to my father, who convinced me to give athletics another chance.”
The decision paid off immensely, leading to her first national call-up and a decade-long streak at the top of Nigerian athletics.
“Yes, I was a good footballer, but with the help of Coach Ogunike, I excelled in athletics. The day I received my first national call-up, he was so happy. He reminded me of the day he told me athletics was my true path. I thanked him, and since then, I have remained consistent. From 2013 till today, I have stayed at the top.”
Okon George expressed profound gratitude to Coach Ogunike for acting like a father and guiding her when she had lost her direction.
“I want to thank Coach Ogunike once again for his advice, support and dedication. Without him, I don’t think I would have returned to athletics. He pushed me to discover where I truly belonged. At one point, I had lost my direction, but like a father, he guided me back and helped me achieve everything I have today.”
With an incredibly decorated career full of African Championships, African Games, and Commonwealth Games medals, she has no regrets.
“I know I have achieved a lot in track and field. I doubt I would have reached this level if I had continued playing football. There is hardly any major track and field competition I haven’t competed in. I am truly grateful to God Almighty for everything.”
