Jonathan Akinyemi: Nigeria's sole rep in Canoeing event

Steve Dede 23:16 - 07 July 2016

Jonathan Akinyemi

In this series, we would be looking at Nigerians participating at the 2016 Olympic Games-either individually or as a team.

A 27-year-old is Nigeria’s only hope of winning its first Olympic medal in Canoeing.

Born in England, Jonathan Akinyemi is the first Nigerian to compete in the canoeing event of the Olympic Games.

He qualified as Nigeria’s only canoeist to Rio 2016 in the men's K-1 class by obtaining a top finish at the 2015 African Canoe Slalom Championships in Sagana, Kenya.

Akinyemi who was born and brought up in England first visited Nigeria in 2008. “My dad's side of the family is Nigerian - my grandad came from Lagos,” he once told BBC Sport.

He competed at 2012 Summer Olympics in the K-1 event, finishing 21st in the heats, failing to qualify for the semifinals.