At the London Olympics this month, Segun Toriola will fly the Nigerian flag for the sixth time in table tennis, demonstrating that not only bad news comes out of Nigeria. He is the only African alive to hold this record of appearances.SEGUN Toriola has won more laurels than any athlete in Nigeria having won series of competitions within Africa and Commonwealth nations. From 1995 to 2007, Toriola dominated the All Africa Games in table tennis in singles and doubles. His records in Africa are unrivalled and in London, he will become the first Nigerian and African to participate in six Olympic Games having made his debut at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in China, his performance was one of the highs of the games when he also became the first blackman and African to play in the round of 32 of the Olympics.Toriola, who plies his trade in France, told The Guardian yesterday from Germany that he never expected that he would be playing in his sixth Olympics having started as a teenager in 1992.'When I took part in my first Olympics I thought that would be my last because any athlete taking part in the Olympics knows that that is the biggest platform to showcase one's talents. I did my best but today I am going to be playing in my sixth Olympics. I see it as an honour which I will forever cherish because few had the opportunity I am having now,' he said.According to Wikipedia, a small fraction of the world's population ever competes at the Olympic Games; an even smaller fraction ever competes in multiple games. Some 488 athletes (119 women, 369 men) have participated in at least five editions of the Olympic Games from Athens 1896 to Vancouver 2010, but excluding the 1906 Intercalated Games. Just over 100 of these have gone on to make at least a sixth Olympic appearance.Several athletes would have made more appearances at the Olympics but for reasons out of their control, such as World Wars (no Olympics were held in 1916, 1940 or 1944), politically motivated boycotts, financial difficulties, or ill-timed injuries.Two athletes have participated nine times: Austrian sailor Hubert Raudaschl and Canadian equestrian Ian Millar. The latter is still active and could yet add to his tally.Well over half of six-time Olympians belong to the shooting, equestrian, sailing and fencing disciplines, which are known for allowing athletes more longevity at the elite level. Athletics and cross-country skiing also provide a large number of athletes who have competed at five Olympics.Approximately a quarter of long-competing athletes are female. As of 2010, the closest a female athlete has come to competing at eight Olympics is 0.028 seconds, which is the time by which Jamaican-Slovenian sprinter Merlene Ottey failed to meet the qualification time required for her to make a remarkable eighth appearance at the 2008 Summer Olympics at age 48. Having changed nationality to Slovenia, Ottey, now 52, might be making her ninth appearance in London.As Toriola and Brazil's Hugo Hoyama will be making their sixth appearance in the table tennis event of the London Olympic Games, the quartet of Belgium's Saive Jean-Michel, Sweden's Jorgen Persson and Croatia's Zoran Primorac will however, be making their seventh appearance in London.Toriola's achievement in table tennis is commendable. He made his debut in the table tennis event of the Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992 and he has not missed any since making his debut. But Beijing Olympics would remain indelible for Toriola following his scintillating performance against the world's best.'Making it to the round of 32 in Beijing was memorable because nobody ever expected an African athlete to make it to that stage of the championship since table tennis was included in the Olympics in 1988. Olympics being the biggest sporting event in the world and the top for every athlete, I am still enjoying the gains of the feat till date because people now respect me wherever I play and this alone is something worth savouring,' Toriola said.He added: 'I am happy that I will be making my sixth outing in London but to be sincere it was not easy, having had to go through a lot to make it once again. And I will cherish this achievement for long,' the erstwhile African champion admitted.He narrated what he had to endure to make it to the Olympics. 'In 2010, I copped an injury and when I was invited to the national team for the World Championship in Moscow, Russia, I told the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) that I was injured. For one year, I could not play and it was very frutrating for me to be out of the sports I have enjoyed doing for more than two decades. I was down but nobody cared to support me but I was sure I would be back.'When I resumed training after a year layoff, I was told to come for trials for the 2011 All Africa Games in Lagos and I had to come because most people doubted my ability. Although, I had not fully recovered from the injury but I used my experience to great effect and qualified for the event. I was also sure that my presence at the All Africa Games would inspire the entire team and that was what made me fight for my place at the trials,' he said.For the London Olympics, he said: 'I am sure I can still do much more that what I did in Beijing in London because in table tennis, there are lots of players that do well in major championships despite their low ranking in the world. Ranking does not win matches. Players get better ranking only because they earn points taking part in Pro Tours, which Nigerian players hardly feature due to lack of funds. But at the Olympics, you need your confidence and this is what matters most for me. I believe in my ability and I will do well in London because what I did in Beijing has opened lots of opportunities for many African players.'Despite winning lots of laurels for the country, Toriola is never discouraged that the country he served had not deem it fit to honour him. 'I am not surprised that my efforts have not been recognised by the sports authority in the country. Nigeria is a nation that gives football more attention than other sports because I know if I had been a footballer, I would have been recognised by now.'That I had not been honoured would not discourage me from doing my best for the country because I am a professional and I must do my work. I understand the Nigerian system and I had to focus on my career and not to allow this to bother me because I know somebody will recognise me one day,' he added.Even without incentives, Toriola's commitment to national duty cannot be faulted and this came to fore at the last World Team Championship in Dortmund, Germany. 'Whenever I am in the colours of the national team I will always give my best because I cherish the colour and I want to make my country proud. Many people are hoping to represent the country but few are opportuned to fulfill the dream. Aside this, I don't want to disappoint my fans who have lots of confidence in me. This alone will always inspire me to give my best. Representing Nigeria is not an easy task especially when you are a champion, you will not want to let people down with your performance.'On why the upcoming players fail to attain his feat in the game, he said: 'In Nigeria, we lack quality coaching and support. These two things are very important for players to excel at any level. Most players in Nigeria train without coaches' guidance and this will not allow them to improve. When I started playing, I got lots of support from the Ogun State Sports Council. Focus should not be on the National Sports Commission (NSC) alone because I always wonder what the states sports councils are doing.'When I started playing the game, I got support from my sports council but I am surprise that most states pay little attention to their athletes these days. No states in Nigeria except Lagos pay attention to table tennis. Even when the National Sports Festival is about to hold, most states will organise camping but after the festival what happens to the athletes' The states will have to wait for another festival before organising another camp. Even most of them don't have table tennis equipment and how do you want players to excel at world stage' These are the problems these younger players are faced with.'Despite being one of the oldest players in Team Nigeria, Toriola has never been involved in doping and he vehemently cautioned athletes to desist from it. 'I think any athlete engaging in doping should know that he or she is endangering his or herself because cheating would not take you far. I am what I am today because I believe in hardwork and this has been my secret since I made my debut in Barcelona 1992.'The Ogun State-born athlete however, admitted that this might be his last outing at the Olympics even though he would continue to work hard at his career.Aside Toriola, Funke Oshonaike will rival her compatriot ' Bose Kaffo by making her fifth Olympics appearance in London. Kaffo made her fifth outing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China.Commenting on Toriola's feat, former Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) chairman and Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Oshodi said: 'Toriola and Oshonaike have shown exceptional leadership with the national teams. Their dedication and discipline to the national team cannot be underestimated. Without any motivation the two players have exhibited good example. Their commitment and dedication to national duty have been encouraging even under terrible conditions they hardly complain. Most times, they take part in trials flying from Europe to play. Toriola, Oshonaike, Monday Merotohun and Bose Kaffo have given all their best to the nation and winning lots of laurels than many athletes in Nigeria. It is discouraging that their efforts have not been recognised'I hope younger players model themselves after them. Toriola has won several laurels in Africa and Commonwealth...
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