Germany-based Elizabeth Anyanacho believes she is poised to return to the Olympic Games and also repeat her podium finish at the 2024 African Games in Ghana.
The 24-year-old, one of the beneficiaries of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Scholarship who is now based at the Taekwondo Competence Center (TCC), Friedrichshafen in Germany became the second Nigeria female taekwondist to compete at the Olympic Games after Princess Dudu at Athens 2004 but her maiden outing at Tokyo 2020 ended early.
Now, she is getting set for the African Olympic Qualifying tournament taking place in Dakar, Senegal next month with an eye on improving her podium finish at Accra 2024 African Games in March.
Speaking ahead of the Olympics Qualifiers, the Statistics undergraduate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in an exclusive interview with Sportsafricana said: “I have a couple of personal expectations for 2024, which of course includes qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics. I also want to get back on track with my education, so it will be quite a busy year for me.
“The Olympic qualification will take place in Dakar Senegal on the 10th and 11th of February 2024, and I am really looking forward to it. A lot has changed or rather improved, and I would love to see and show how much I have learned and improved,” she said.
Recalling her experience at the German Centre, the 2023 African championships silver medallist said: “One of the important lessons I have learnt is how to fight as a tall athlete. Yes, having height is great, but using it is not as easy as it looks, and that for me has improved a lot, and it’s getting better every day.
“I have also learnt how to handle pressure as it’s not where I want it to be yet, but definitely, it’s better than before. But most importantly is trusting in God and putting Him at the center of everything I do.”
She however, acknowledged that her take-off in taekwondo under the tutelage of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games medallist, Chika Chukwumerije has prepared her for the challenges in the sport
“I had a good background of taekwondo when I started and now the difference is I am starting to understand the game, I remember when I was preparing for the Tokyo 2020, everything happened so fast for me and I was new to that kind of platform. I didn’t even realize it was a big deal until I was in the Olympic village and I had just started competing just about three years before I qualified so I really was a novice in all areas. But now I believe I have gained some level of experience,” she added.