Olympic Feature: From novice to Olympian in three months

Hamadou Djibo Issaka, who is the first Nigerien to represent his country in the sport, started rowing just three months ago. Today he became an Olympian.

Djibo Issaka started out as a swimmer and it was the head of the Niger Swimming Federation that sent him to Egypt for two weeks to try rowing. Previously he had only ever seen rowing on television.

He then went on to the International Rowing Development Centre in Tunis, Tunisia, for a further two months. The centre is a key facility for both African federations, who use it for training camps.

The Nigerien’s final preparations took place in Hazewinkel, Belgium at the Bloso regatta course before coming to London. “I have seen so many new things in Great Britain that I have never seen before, just so many new things.” And while most rowers were tucked up in their beds, Djibo Issaka went to the Opening Ceremony, despite advised not to. “It was magnificent. I had never seen fireworks before in my life!” Although he did not get back to his accommodation until three in the morning, he said he did not feel tired.

When the first-time Olympian returns home, a new era of rowing will begin in his country, he says. “There are many people who want to start rowing because I have come to the Olympic Games. We are starting when I get back. We just have to wait for the boats to arrive.” This will certainly be an upgrade for Djibo Issaka, as when he was in Niger rowed in a boat made out of materials found in his town, which did not include the classic rowing materials like carbon fibre.

The Nigerien received an invitation from the IOC Tripartite Commission. The purpose of these places is “to strengthen the principle of universal representation.”