I want to become world’s best – Babalola

Hannah Babalola Photo: www.rio2016.com

’Tana Aiyejina

Nigerian para-athlete Hannah Babalola says she won’t give up after she failed to win a medal at the just-concluded Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

She said she had put behind her the Rio Games and is concentrating on becoming the best in the world.

Hope was on Babalola, the African record holder in the 100m and 200m T54 Wheelchair Racing Category, to win a medal at the Games but she missed a chance to climb the podium on her debut at the global sports event.

She finished 7th in a time of 16.85s in the women’s 100m T54 final. And even though she has been hailed for reaching the final of her event in her first appearance, Babalola is hoping to become the best in her events very soon.

“I’m a proud Paralympian, thanks to my church, Mr. Osahon, my coaches Babatunde Kolawole and Ueli Albert from Canada and of course Union Bank and every other person that contributed to make me succeed in Rio. I’m grateful,” she said.

“I didn’t win any medal in Rio but I’m not giving up. It was an exciting experience competing at that level for the first time. My aim was to win a medal but it didn’t come to pass. Now, I have to go back and work harder, so that I can become the best in the world.

“Right now, I’m the best in Nigeria, the best in Africa but I want to be the best in the world. I think I can do this. I’m unstoppable, I can do it.”