Breaking Ice Barriers − Nigeria’s curling team play starring role at Gangwon 2024

Nigeria’s curling team might not have managed a win in the round robin section of the Mixed Team event at the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024 but they have won the hearts of fellow competitors and fans alike.

The ‘Broomzillas’, as they are affectionately known, stepped onto the ice for only the second time ever when they arrived at the Gangneung Curling Centre. The first time was when they qualified for the YOG in Finland.

Back home in Lagos the team of Goodnews Charles, Fatiu Danmola, Oluwanimifise Wale-Adeogen and Nkoyo Oku, train on specially adapted artificial surfaces and admit, the transition to ice has not always been easy.

Despite the results, the team are loving the experience of the YOG and believe they are improving all the time. This is the first time Nigeria has sent a team to the Winter YOG.

The Mixed Doubles event gives a chance for two members of the team to gain even more experience on the ice.

Roy Daniel will partner Wale-Adeogen in the Mixed Pairs and they begin their campaign against Hungary on Friday, and then they face Great Britain, Czechia and Canada before rounding off the qualifying stage against host nation Republic of Korea on Tuesday (Jan 30).

Gangwon 2024 runs until 1 February, with more than 1,800 athletes from 78 NOCs taking part. The Winter Youth Olympic Games is filmed for live television and digital streaming on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the Olympics app, with full session replays and highlights also available.