REFILE Adeagbo hopes skeleton is here to sleigh for Nigeria

Pyeongchang, South Korea (dpa) - Africa‘s first female skeleton slider hopes her performance in the Winter Games will inspire others from her country to take up the sport.Nigeria‘s Simidele Adeagbo finished last in the women‘s skeleton, won by Britain‘s Lizzy Yarnold, but said: "I left everything out there on the track. I may have come in last but it was my personal best and a big step for Nigeria, Africa, the global sports movement."I just have joy. My heart is full."Adeagbo, a former triple jumper who was inspired by the Nigerian men‘s bobsleigh team to take up skeleton, finished 9.50 seconds behind Yarnold.The Olympic debut for the 36-year-old marketing manager came only some six months after trying the sport for the first time."I hope there are other Nigerians who have seen what I‘m doing and see that they want to be a part of this," she said."Just like I was inspired by our bobsleigh team, that‘s what has made me go on this journey. It is about inspiring other people in Nigeria and around the world."I hope that people look at me and think of greatness. They can start from somewhere and progress to where they want to go."Adeagbo says she now has to "get back to life" and her job in Johannesburg."I have to go back to Johannesburg and think what is next," she said, "I don‘t want to be the last skeleton athlete from Nigeria. I was the first and I cannot be the last. We need to continue this momentum."