Gymnastics is a sport worth fighting for – Gymnastics VP Olalere

Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria Vice President, Omowunmi Olalere, discusses her passion for the sport and her struggles for fair representation in leadership. She explains that she entered gymnastics to give back to society, as she believed success should come with a responsibility to help others. Olalere chose gymnastics deliberately because it is a children's sport that teaches discipline, courage, flexibility, confidence, and concentration, and she wanted to discover extraordinary talent in ordinary Nigerian children.

Her involvement began in 2021 when she became Chairperson of the Southwest Gymnastics Association and contested for the presidency of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria. Despite losing the election, she remained involved, sponsoring events, supporting programs, and investing time and resources into the sport. Her contributions were not always acknowledged, especially when she challenged the incumbent.

In 2025, Olalere decided to run again, believing that a healthy democratic institution would allow for new leadership after eight years in office. However, the process was interrupted when the Constitution was amended, creating a pathway for a third term after eight years. She questioned the transparency and legitimacy of the decision, as well as the exclusion of certain constituencies from the election.

Despite mobilizing her team and facing challenges, Olalere was ultimately unsuccessful in securing the presidency, and the gymnastics community was left in uncertainty. She believes that being a woman may have made her experience more challenging, as she faced resistance, pressure, and questioning of her capacity, voice, and right to compete.