Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye

Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye (born 10 December 1993) is a Nigerian freestyle wrestler. She competed in the women's freestyle 53 kg event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where she won a gold medal and at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships where she won a bronze medal.

"The rise of Odunayo Adekuoroye: From street vendor to wrestling champ" (2020)

 * "The rise of Odunayo Adekuoroye: From street vendor to wrestling champ", Olympics, 21 May 2020 by Evelyn Watta


 * Wrestling is not always about your strength, your physique, it’s about what is in your head. 30% of your strength, 30% of your tactics but most is your mental ability to manoeuvre your opponent. Because most of the time on the mat competitors are equal in strength.
 * Wrestling gave me fame, took me out of poverty and gave me a name. We didn’t have anything at home, but when I started making money, at least now we are not rich, but we are comfortable. We are now living in our own house, I bought a car for my dad, and I opened a shop for my mum.
 * I want to wear an Olympic gold medal, like the wrestler I admire the most Jordan Burroughs. I love his style. When I was young, I used to watch his videos for hours. I want to succeed like him
 * My dad used to tell me, ‘my daughter I believe what I can’t do anymore you can do it and make me proud.’ The only gift I can give him now is to medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The love I have for him will drive me.
 * My coach has done so much for me. We spend a lot of time together, strength training, mat training. Sometimes he even stands in as a training partner for me. Most of the matches I have won, it’s not my strength but the intelligence of the coach.
 * I ended up loving wrestling passionately.
 * When you take this life too seriously, you are making things difficult for yourself. That’s why you have to find your happiness. I am always trying to be happy and smiling most of the time
 * I find myself often thinking about how the gold medal will be represented to me… my dream finally coming true. I can’t wait to experience that moment and make history as the first African woman to win Olympic gold in wrestling.