By Oluwademilade Ogunleye
For many athletes, the journey often begins with a dream to compete, to win and to stand on a podium holding medals. But for Gloria, it all started with something simpler, a casual curiosity. To her, she was just a young girl chasing joy, unaware she was on the path to becoming one of University of Ibadan’s top athletes. Three years down the line, her story has now become one of the most inspiring in the history of University of Ibadan Sports.
Humble Beginnings
A native of Ilesha, Osun State, Akinyemi Gloria is currently a third-year student of Human Kinetics at Nigeria’s first and best University, the University of Ibadan. Though that wasn’t her initial plan, she found herself on a path that would eventually come to shape her future. “When I finished school in 2020, I chose CLA (Communications and Language Arts) but didn’t enter for the course. I waited a year because UI wasn’t giving admission in 2021. It was my mother’s friend who told her about Human Kinetics. She knew I loved sports; so my next JAMB, I put in for Human Kinetics and I entered with ease.”Gloria’s love for sports began with track and field, events she still follows closely. “I wanted to be the next Blessing Okagbare”, she said. However, the parental support was shaky at first. Her mother even suggested she try tennis or table tennis instead. “My parents are lovers of sports but it’s swimming that I chose to actively involve myself in, so they were skeptical,”
The Beginning of the Passion for Swimming
Swimming entered Gloria’s life in 2022 and for her, it was just something she wanted to learn for fun. ” Swimming started as a fun activity, something I really wanted to learn and be good at, not necessarily for a competitive course. I just wanted to know how to swim.”A turning point however came during the Prof Falaye’s Competition in 2022. Obafemi Awolowo University had come to participate in a swimming competition hosted by UI and beaten the host school mercilessly. “[It was] When OAU came to UI and beat us blue black. I watched from (what is now) the reading room at SUB. I was still a beginner.”Thus, what began as a personal challenge wasn’t going to stop at fun anymore, and eventually became a full blown passion, and later, a lifestyle. Looking back, she wishes someone had told her that passion can start at any age, and that it’s okay to begin even before you feel ready.
The Cost Of Commitment
For Gloria, the road wasn’t easy. Her journey into swimming began officially in 2022 and took off seriously in 2023 and despite the slow start, her early days were met with uncertainty, especially from those closest to her. “People doubted me and said I was doing too much. I went to the pool every day, sometimes alone from 12pm to 5pm.”For six months, Gloria paid N500 each time and had to suffer the consequences from constant hunger and migraines. “If you’re not from a rich home, you’d understand that there’s serious hunger after. But unfortunately for me, I had only garri to go back to drink. I don’t take garri so most times, I don’t eat. But I’d still go to the pool again the next day.”The effect was also there academically. Gloria struggled to balance her newfound love for swimming with her class rep duties and schoolwork and despite starting with one of the highest JAMB and O’level results in her class, she ended up with a low CGPA in her first year.However, all of these challenges weren’t enough to deter her as she persevered in training, becoming one of UI’s top dedicated athletes.
Breaking Barriers
She was also a gold medalist at the Nigerian FISU trials, earning her a spot to represent Nigeria at the World University Games in Berlin.She was recently named the University of Ibadan Sportswoman of the year and nominated for the 2025 edition of the JCI’s Fifteen Outstanding Personalities Award in the category of Most Outstanding Person in Sports.
Still, Gloria holds her achievements with quiet pride. For her, the most rewarding part isn’t just the medals but the respect earned. “The best part of being a woman in sports should be when people respect you for having so much courage to defy the odds and do so well at it.”But she is also realistic about the challenges. “I think the opportunities are limited. From when I grew up, there was really little or no opportunity for the girl child growing up to venture into sports, unless your parents are wealthy and knowledgeable enough to take you to an academy.”Being a woman in sports was however something to love as she noted that every opportunity she had through swimming was because of her gender. To her, becoming a girl who started out with nothing being the top 1% in sports in the university stands out in her memory everyday.
Ironically, even though Gloria is a swimmer, she doesn’t like water touching her while she’s fully dressed. As to how she copes going into every competition, Gloria admits that she might be a little aquaphobic, and the dislike still stands even as she goes into every competition.
The Driving Force
Gloria’s journey as a student-athlete has not been without a personal drive. Through it all, she has always learned to lean on one person the most, herself. “My biggest supporter since my journey has been myself.” Still, there have been a few who stayed by her side, even when things got tough. “I’ve had a few people in my circle who have always supported me.”Though Gloria is now a known athlete, she admits self-doubt often creeps in before competitions. “Most times, my head is blank. I rarely hear anything (but when the fatigue hits mid-swim) I just keep telling myself: Let’s go girl, you’re not tired, you can do this.”
When asked where she sees herself in the next five to ten years, Gloria lights up with a quiet, steady confidence. “I look forward to participating in the Commonwealth Games. I’d be joining a state team soon. In the next 5–10 years, I think I should be able to say I lived my youth doing what I wanted,” Additionally, Gloria hopes to build opportunities for the younger generation and also create a platform to nurture young talents. “I see myself building opportunities and bridging the gap between young talents and opportunities,”
For Gloria, her motivation has grown beyond personal wins to something bigger – making impacts. “My drive skids a little beyond personal gains to a bigger vision of making impact and to be an encouragement source to those upcoming with little or no opportunities.”
Gloria’s story is a story of passion, perseverance and proof that where you start doesn’t determine where you end up. Someone who once feared water now conquers it with every stroke, showing that sometimes, the things we once feared can become the things we are best at.
