In the high-stakes realm of elite athletics, where a mere fraction of a second can define a career, a woman’s choice to become a mother has often been perceived as a professional death sentence. The prevailing belief suggests that motherhood dulls the competitive edge, with the physical demands of pregnancy deemed incompatible with peak performance.
However, a burgeoning group of Nigerian female athletes is dismantling this stereotype, demonstrating that the heart of a champion beats just as fiercely with the love of a child. They are not merely athletes; they are superwomen, adeptly managing the demands of diapers and starting blocks, breastfeeding and weight training.
These remarkable women are redefining what is possible, revealing that motherhood can serve as a source of strength, perspective, and even greater success. Through the stories of athletes like Dr. Sarah Ogoke, Omolara Ogunmakinju, and Aminat Idrees, determination and support enable female athletes to excel both as fierce competitors and loving mothers. Their extraordinary achievements highlight not only personal victories but also pave the way for future generations of women in sports, revealing that it truly is possible to embrace every facet of life without compromise.
Sarah Ogoke
In the challenging landscape of balancing motherhood with a professional career, Dr. Sarah Ogoke stands out as a beacon of hope for young Nigerian mothers. Her story, characterised by grit, excellence, and resilience, serves as an inspiring reminder that no dream is too ambitious to pursue, even when life’s responsibilities feel overwhelming.
As the only basketball player in Africa to have secured the Women’s African Basketball Championship title five times—remarkably in five consecutive editions—Ogoke’s journey is a testament to determination. From 2017 to 2025, she has etched her name into the annals of African sports history.
What makes Ogoke’s accomplishments even more astonishing is that she achieved them while embracing motherhood. Her candid reflection, “If I can push a baby out, what’s a few Afro baskets?” amusingly encapsulates her unwavering confidence and mental fortitude in facing life’s challenges.
Upon returning to the court after childbirth, she experienced first-hand the power of community support. “It truly takes a village to raise a child,” Ogoke recalls, reflecting on how her teammates cared for her son, Bentley, during tournaments—feeding him, changing his nappies, and showering him with affection.
Despite the demands of motherhood, Ogoke’s core attributes as an athlete—discipline, determination, resilience, and laser focus—remained intact. While the nurturing side of motherhood took precedence, the relentless competitor within her persisted, driving her towards further victories.
Her championship years—2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025—stand as a testament to consistent excellence. Each win represented not merely a medal but a reaffirmation of her commitment to both her sport and her personal growth.
Beyond the basketball court, Ogoke is also a certified medical doctor, a rare fusion of athletic and academic achievement. Balancing medical training, professional sports, and family life is no small feat, yet she manages it with grace and perseverance.
Omolara Ogunmakinju
Omolara Ogunmakinju made a triumphant return to athletics after taking a break to get married and start a family. The Akure-born 400m specialist paused her career to embrace the responsibilities of motherhood.
After giving birth to a son and a daughter, she resumed athletics following a five-year hiatus. “We got married in 2015 and decided to take a break after the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. God blessed us with our first child in 2018 and our second in 2020. We resumed training in 2021, and I made the Nigerian team in 2023,” Ogunmakinju shared with The PUNCH.
She first gained recognition at just 19, winning a gold medal with Nigeria’s women’s 4x400m relay team at the African Championships in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, in 2012. That same year, she made her Olympic debut in London.
Four years later, she again contributed to the relay team’s silver medal finish at the African Championships in Durban, South Africa. Amid high expectations for her future in the quarter-mile, the emerging athlete suddenly stepped away from the sport for family life.
Returning to athletics proved challenging. “It wasn’t easy to come back after childbirth, burn fat, and start training,” she told nsmmedia.com.ng at the 2022 National Sports Festival, where she represented Rivers State in the relays.
“I had to leave the tracks to focus on my new home and seize the opportunity to give birth to my beautiful children. I am grateful to God and my husband for their support.
“I missed the track and my running mates. Now I have a new set of people; it’s like being in another class, and I’m loving it—it’s fun.”
Rather than rushing her return to competitive sports, Ogunmakinju took a gradual approach, finishing second in the women’s 400m final at the 2022 National Sports Festival.
“We’ve been working hard to keep up, and by the grace of God, from one competition to the next, I’ve been improving my times. Here we are,” she stated in an interview with Making of Champions after last year’s championships.
Returning to athletics after a break can be strenuous, but Ogunmakinju stressed that her decision came after careful consideration and support from her husband. “After giving birth to my second child, I thought, ‘What next? Should I be a coach, pursue something else, or give it another go?’ I decided to try again. From there, I started jogging to shed the weight. As I progressed, I realised I could still do it. That’s how I made it through.”
Aminat Idrees
In 2021, Nigerian athlete Aminat Idrees, who was eight months pregnant at the time, won a gold medal in the Mixed Poomsae category in Taekwondo at the National Sports Festival in Edo State.
Footage shared on Twitter showed Idrees demonstrating various combat techniques, and she also earned additional medals in the non-combat simulated category of Taekwondo known as Poomsae.
Speaking to CNN, Idrees expressed her elation about her accomplishment at the event. “It’s such a privilege for me. I decided to give it a try after training a couple of times… It feels really good,” she said.
“Before I got pregnant, I always enjoyed training, so it didn’t feel different during pregnancy,” Idrees added.
However, not everyone found her participation inspiring; some critics questioned her decision to compete given her advanced stage of pregnancy. “Many people don’t understand what Taekwondo is actually about. I see this as an opportunity to educate them. Taekwondo has two branches: the combat sport and Poomsae, which is a form of exercise… just displaying hand and leg techniques in Taekwondo. I participated in the Poomsae event,” she explained.
“I felt there wasn’t much risk involved, so I decided to give it a try. My doctor and the organising committee certified me fit to participate in the non-contact sport,” the expectant mother added.
Chioma Udeaja
Before marriage and motherhood, Chioma Udeaja was one of Nigeria’s top women’s basketball players and a key member of the D’Tigress team that claimed Nigeria’s second women’s AfroBasket title in 2005.
Twelve years later, following childbirth, she was part of the D’Tigress roster that secured a third African title in Mali.
As a mother, Udeaja maintained her fitness and was instrumental in making her club, First Bank, a formidable force in Africa for nearly two decades. She helped the D’Tigress secure a silver medal at the 2015 African Games in Congo and led First Bank to a bronze medal at the 2016 African Club Championship in Maputo. Individually, she was named the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League Most Valuable Player in 2014.
Obiageri Orizu
Mother of two, Obiageri Orizu, remains an influential figure at DreamStar FC, even after childbirth. She believes that being a mother shouldn’t prevent a female footballer from achieving her dreams. “I got married as a footballer, had two children, and I’m still playing football. Giving birth has not affected my performance in any way.”
Nigerian female athletes balancing pregnancy and motherhood with sports are more than just competitors; they are pioneers. They are forging a path with little precedent, armed with determination and love.
Their victories are measured not only in medals and records but also in the quiet moments of balance between their two worlds. They send a powerful message to every girl with a dream: you do not have to choose. You can be a nurturing mother and a fierce competitor. You can change the world, one tiny embrace and one giant leap at a time. Their greatest legacy may not be the podiums they stand on, but the limitless possibilities they are unlocking for the generations of women who will follow.
