For Black History Month, we spoke to some of our Black athletes on their experiences of sport at UCL...
Nile Oyenekan
UCL Gymnastics Club, President 25/26
How has sport defined your time at UCL?
Gymnastics has defined my time at UCL differently throughout the years. I would say that sport defined my first year by allowing me to participate once again in a sport I loved. Before university I had stopped training gymnastics and part of the excitement in coming to UCL was the opportunity to join the sport again. I remember going to the takeover day, and quickly signing up for a taster session. I really enjoyed the gym environment from those sessions and knew this was a club I wanted to be a part of. Second year, whilst coming back from an injury what really stood out to me was the social/team side of sport. Encouragement from teammates to gain back my strength and confidence to compete again helped shape my 2nd year in a positive way that I’m grateful for. This year, alongside my role of president, I hope to see sport define my time at UCL from the perspective of giving back to members of the club and helping share all the aspects of the sport I enjoy.
What is your greatest sporting achievement at UCL?
My greatest sporting achievement would have to be returning to competition at BUCS last year. After suffering an achilles injury the previous year in the week leading up to the same competition, I remember putting together any routines possible and before competing telling myself I was simply happy to have made it to Leicester and have the chance to compete. Overall, the competition went well, and I was very pleased to win 3 gold medals. Reflecting on the whole experience, it always feels like a full circle moment from my experience the year before and serves as a proud marker for what recovery looked like one year on from my injury, definitely giving me the confidence to continue.
What has been your proudest/favourite moment with TeamUCL?
My favourite moment with TeamUCL also stems from the BUCS competition. Whilst gymnastics can sometimes feel like an individual sport, the weekend away at Leicester for competition allowed me to appreciate the team aspect of the club and get to know a lot of the members better. We had a really nice movie night the day before competition and although I wasn’t competing on the first day, I was determined to be the biggest cheerleader for all the girls competing, holding up signs we had made together the week before. On the second day of competition, I was the only one competing for UCL, however everyone had still stayed to support and were honestly the best teammates I could’ve asked for, specifically holding up a “Smile Nile” sign and enthusiastically cheering each time I competed.
Why should students get involved with sport at UCL?
UCL offers so may choices so that joining a sport at any point during the year provides the opportunity to meet new people and become active once again. I find that it also gives some sort of structure and consistency to your week that I always felt comforting, whether that’s attending a particular training every week or going to Sports night every Wednesday. For me as well, being involved with sport has helped me massively not only physically but mentally. I remember during exam period that attending gymnastic sessions was still a priority and something I made time for. By continuing to do something I loved amidst what could have very well been an overwhelming and stressful period, it allowed me to take a break from revision and reframe my mindset.
What do you think sports clubs could be doing to increase inclusivity at UCL?
I think a lot of peoples first impression of a sport club is what they see online so it’s really important to be aware and tackle pre conceived notions that may prevent students joining the club. This may involve holding events to highlight the pre-existing diversity within your club, actively signposting towards the participation fund or showcasing the efforts of beginners in your sport to those who may think a certain level is required to join. I also think its key for sport clubs to remember that people may decide to join a sport at UCL at any point throughout the year so it’s important to not only have a welcoming attitude at the start but consistently across the year.
One of the sub-themes for this year’s Black History Month is ‘Icons of Influence’. Are there any friends, teammates or athletes that you consider an icon?
Someone who I’ve always admired is Simone Biles. I’ve followed her gymnastics career quite closely since 2013 and she’s definitely grown to become an icon of influence within the sporting world in general. Nowadays, I think it’s very easy for someone to perhaps naively say she’s going to win a competition from the outset, but I believe any sportsperson can really appreciate an athlete who not only obviously has incredible talent but has also harnessed the skill of competing with the confidence to consistently perform well under pressure. I believe it’s an admirable quality that also holds true for many situations outside of sport amongst any high-pressure situation and something that people can learn from.