At only 15, Stephanie Onusiriuka is making a name for herself in gymnastics. The young Nigerian’s journey into gymnastics began at the age of two. She was easily flipping and tumbling when most children were just learning to walk.
Her parents quickly recognized her extraordinary talent and nurtured it, enrolling her in professional gymnastics training by the time she was seven, according to Duchess International Magazine.
This early commitment paved the way for Onusiriuka’s meteoric rise in the sport. Her first international success came at the age of eight when she clinched a gold medal in South Africa, making a name for herself as a future star.
By age 11, the trailblazer had already solidified her place in Nigerian sports history with a stellar performance at the National Sports Festival in Edo. She took home one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, a feat that announced her as a force to be reckoned with in gymnastics.
Onusiriuka’s accomplishments didn’t stop there. Her remarkable performance at the African Gymnastic Club Members competition in Pretoria, South Africa, further cemented her reputation. She earned another gold medal, bringing pride to her family and the entire nation.
The Nation Newspaper reports that the 15-year-old has finished her secondary school education, won the Peace Achievers International Award for sports personality of the year, and was honored at the Women Power Conference in 2021. She has also been recognized as an Outstanding Gymnastics Child Athlete.
According to reports, Onusiriuka, a member of the UK Gymnastics Club and a trainer at Leeds Gymnastics, is being encouraged to go back to the UK. Her accomplishments garnered the attention of several famous Nigerians, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi, who personally praised her efforts and the joy she brought to the country.
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Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, also recognized the young gymnast as an elite.
He said, “She will be part of our elite plans and preparations. Let’s see what you have, then we will put our heads together and make a new plan. Even if she is going abroad, she will be there on our own support and sponsorship. We will foot her bills. By 2026, she will be 16, so she will feature in the Commonwealth Games. In 2028, she can be a major medal prospect at the Olympics.”
Biko added, “Whatever we do for the likes of Ese Brume, we will do for her. We will also get someone to adopt her in line with our Adopt-an-athlete program so the private sector will complement whatever we do as government. From our perspective, from now on, she is part of our elite group.
“Gymnastics is such a sport that is done at a very early age. This is the beginning of the peak years of gymnastics. These next four, five years are the years she is at her peak to get us on the podium. Biles is 27, but she is in the exit lounge. She won her first Olympic gold medal at 19. That is about the same age that we are targeting Stephanie in 2028. She will be 18 then; she should get us on the Olympic podium.”
Despite her accomplishments, Onusiriuka’s career has not been without difficulties, particularly because gymnastics in Nigeria faces considerable issues such as inadequate facilities and limited funding.
Yet her resilience shone through. She competes boldly and trains nonstop despite having no access to the kind of resources that competitors in other nations have.
The Nigerian government, in collaboration with private sponsors like Air Peace, recognized her exceptional potential and intervened to provide financial and logistical support, investing in both her future and the future of gymnastics in Nigeria.
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