Top Royal Greenwich Athletes Were On World Stage

by Benson Agoha In Lagos

Four local athletes are doing the Royal Borough proud this year as they join athletes from across the globe to compete in Rio de Janeiro.

Paralympic swimmer Susie Rodgers, triple jumper Tosin Oke, Ellis O’Reilly, who competes in artistic gymnastics, and 100m sprinter Daryll Neita are flying the flag for Greenwich.

During London 2012, the Royal Borough of Greenwich celebrated the achievements of Tosin Oke, Paralympic Rugby player Andy Barrow and weightlifter Zoe Smith, while Gemma Gibbons took a silver medal in Judo.

Cllr Denise Scott-McDonald, the Council’s cabinet member for Culture, Creative Industries and Community Well-being said: “On behalf of the Royal Borough I would like to wish all our athletes the best of luck. They have all worked extremely hard to get there and we hope they will enjoy great success.”

“Our local charity has a vital role in supporting local sportsmen and sportswomen, with bursaries ensuring that the athletes have the means to train and compete, and ultimately achieve great success.”

Susie Rodgers has won over 20 international medals to date, including three Paralympic medals in London. Tosin Oke has made the transfer to compete for Nigeria in the triple jump after previously competing for Great Britain. He said: “This will in all likelihood be my last Olympic Games, and I want to firstly improve on my seventh place in the last one, and secondly earn a medal to show for my endeavours since I first started in 1997.”

Ellis O’Reilly is the first ever female Irish gymnast to compete in the Olympic sport. She said: “The support helps me to believe in myself more as a gymnast and supports my hard work.”

Daryll Neita is competing in the 100m and 4x100m events.