Gymnast Faulkner reveals why she performed with Fela song at Gold Coast 2018

Jade Faulkner became the first Nigerian rhythmic gymnast at the Commonwealth Games after she competed at the Gold Coast 2018 Games in April. The 24-year-old former Great Britain gymnast tells Idris Adesina why she switched from Britain to Nigeria and many more in this interview

Why opt for Nigeria, a country not known for gymnastics?

After having the opportunity to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, I wanted to do something more. The Commonwealth Games was another competition I wanted to compete in and when I learnt that I was related to Nigeria, I grabbed the opportunity to represent the country at the Games. I then contacted the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria and they supported me in achieving the dream. I applied to the FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) for a switch of allegiance and it was granted in March.

What influenced your decision to join the country?

I learnt that my grandfather was a Nigerian and that further influenced my decision to represent the country. His name was Eke Okebulu – he was my mum’s father. When I learnt that, I wanted to do something that will connect me to my Nigerian roots and also make it easy for me to associate with the country the more.

This is your first Commonwealth Games. What’s the experience like?

The experience was wonderful and being a part of the Team Nigeria made the whole experience more worthwhile. Everyone on the team was awesome and welcoming and they made me feel at home. The competition itself went pretty well and I enjoyed my stay in Australia. My first Commonwealth Games taught me a lot.

You represented Britain at the 2012 Olympics. What’s the difference between the two competitions?

The Olympics is definitely a bigger stage than the Commonwealth Games but the difference for me was that while I was a part of a team at the Olympics, I competed individually at the Commonwealth Games. I also made history as the first Nigerian rhythmic gymnast at the Games.

How does it feel to be the first rhythmic gymnast to represent Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games?

It’s exciting. There isn’t the same pressure on me as an athlete who is expected to outperform his predecessors. I really want to take advantage of this situation and put performances on which I feel the audience will enjoy rather than primarily seeking the judges’ satisfaction. Rhythmic gymnastics is Eastern European dominated; we don’t see many African athletes at the world stage – I hope that can change in the nearest future.

You are meeting Nigerians for the first time. How did you get along with the other members of the team?

It was quite easy and they made me feel at home. They were warm and they made me have a sense of belonging. It was awesome being with the team.

Are you disappointed that you didn’t win a medal in Gold Coast?

I was not disappointed because I wanted to give a performance that the audience would enjoy – I was glad I achieved that. This is my first Commonwealth Games and it is the first time I would be performing as an individual gymnast at that stage. So, I knew getting a medal would not be easy; I set out to get a good reaction from the audience, which really made it special for me.

Would you describe your experience in Australia as part of learning in the sport?

Yes, because it was my first outing at the Commonwealth Games and also the first time I will compete individually. But it was also an opportunity for me to inspire young girls to pick an interest in the sport.

There was a defection scare in the camp of Nigeria and other African countries at the Games. Did it affect the team at any point?

I don’t know much about the defection scare.

What’s your impression of gymnastics as a sport in Nigeria?

I think Nigeria is a blessed country that can do well in the sport if the right support is given to the athletes from a young age. Gymnastics is a sport that is bounded by age – there is a certain age a gymnast gets to that she would not be able to perform at optimum level. They have to start very early to get the best out of them.

Are you hoping to visit Nigeria soon?

I hope to come to Nigeria soon because I want to know more about my grandfather and my family in the country.

How do you hope to help popularise gymnastics in Nigeria?

I and my coach Ellen Watson are making plans to visit the country in partnership with the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria. We want to help to build a new generation of gymnasts in the country. During our visit, we will train the coaches on the ways to get the best out of the young gymnasts.

What are your aspirations in the sport?

One of my aspirations is to represent Nigeria at the Olympics – which is two years away. I also want to win more laurels at competitions I attend.

Would you be representing Nigeria in future competitions?

Yes, I will.

What support did you get from the Nigeria Gymnastics Federation?

I got a lot of support from them after I contacted them that I would like to represent Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games. They kept encouraging me and kept in contact before the competition. Although I have not contacted them after the Games, I hope to reach out to them and see how we can develop the sport in Nigeria.

What was the experience like at the Olympics?

It was a dream come true to represent Great Britain at the Olympics. Till now, I still revel in the honour of representing my country at such a big stage.

Gymnastics is not such a popular sport. Why did you choose it?

I started gymnastics when I was six and I have not regretted it since then. I did ballet when I was younger and I think that was what made me to fall in love with rhythmic gymnastics because I found it interesting. I have enjoyed being a gymnast since I started doing the sport.

Apart from winning the British national championship, what other accomplishments have you in the sport?

I have represented Great Britain at European and World Championships a couple of times before my switch to Nigeria. Also qualifying for the Olympics in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games this year have been things I am proud of.

What are your most memorable moments on the floor?

Most memorable moment on the floor was being able to finish my routine at the Olympic Games in 2012. I competed as a member of a team in London and it takes a lot of things to be able to perform well without any major error in our routine at that stage and also in front of a lot of people, who were watching us. To do that under the kind of pressure we were under is something I will always cherish.

What are the challenges you have faced as a gymnast?

In training, this year has been quite challenging for me because I have been training alone with my coach which makes it kind of tough. It gets boring and lonely sometimes unlike when you train with a team but I just have to keep pushing. In competition, the four routines we do require a lot of focus and attention, which can be very tough to get given the distractions and pressure that come from the audience.

What are the benefits of being a gymnast?

Gymnastics is a tough mental sport but it has helped me to keep my balance and focus when I need them most. You have to be strong to be a good gymnast. I have been able to get most of my strength from the sport and I think it is a good sport for the young ones. It helps to also build the spirit of sportsmanship and other life lessons in an athlete.

As a rhythmic gymnast, what are your strong and weak points, given that the sport is subjectively judged?

I am a lot older in the sport than when I started – the best age a gymnast can achieve more is between the ages of 12 and 16. A lot of the strength and flexibility I had when I was younger are really not there now. But I have other areas of strength that have worked well for me at competitions and those are the areas I focus more on now in my training.

Do you have any funny experience on the floor that you would like to share?

Once, we were doing a team routine and someone threw the ring to me and it went out of the carpet. I had to stretch a lot to get the ring but unknowingly, the floor was slippery and I fell on my bum before I could reach the ring. I didn’t get injured but it was one of the funny moments on the floor that I won’t forget.

You performed with Fela’s song at the Commonwealth Games. What influenced your choice of the song?

My coach chooses the music I perform with at competitions. We went for Fela’s song in one of my routines because we wanted something fun and Nigerian as well as something I could be inspired by. The choice of the song was not that difficult because it had the elements we wanted in it.