Sasegbon looking for All African Games success

Moe Sasegbon. Picture by makingofchamps.com (Image: Copyright © Making Of Champions 2015)

The 23-year-old athlete, who is an ex Queenswood School student, a current member of Stevenage and North Herts Athletics Club and trained at Sheffield University with Jessica Ennis-Hill, switched from representing GB to Nigeria this year and is hoping to be among the medals in the Congo.

While also a heptathlete, Sasegbon will be concentrating solely on the high jump in Brazzaville. She also has Rio 2016 in her sights.

Here she answers our questions.

Q. How did you get into athletics?

A. I was brought up in a very athletic household. Both my parents competed for their universities in their sports – my dad basketball, my mum swimming – so I think getting involved in some sport was inevitable.

When I was nine my dad decided my sister and I, because we were tall and had long legs, should start high jump training at the national stadium in Nigeria. I was quite bad at it whereas my sister was the natural; we kept at it for about three months then just lost interest. I didn’t take it up again till Year 8.

Were you a natural athlete?

I loved sports and P.E. in primary school but I wasn’t anything special, it was only from about age 14/15 that my natural talent started to show.

Who decided that you should try heptathlon?

My coach made me take it up as a way of regaining fitness after an injury to my foot. I found the idea of doing an 800m after two days of competing a nightmare. I never dreamed I’d take it up full time because I really didn’t like any of the events other than the first two (hurdles and high jump)!

I reluctantly kept going with it occasionally until I started university, where I went back to competing in just the high jump.

You trained at Sheffield University alongside Jessica Ennis-Hill. In what ways has she influenced your career?

I think I was star-struck for about a year after joining the group but then I got used to it.

Watching her and the rest of the multi-eventers we trained with definitely contributed to me deciding to switch to heptathlon. I admired her discipline in getting through the different sessions no matter how tough they were.

It was amazing to watch the foundations being laid for her London 2012 victory and understand part of what it takes to be a champion.

How did you qualify for the Africa Games?

I came third at the national trials in heptathlon and also jumped the qualifying height in high jump.

I’ve decided to just compete in high jump. The games are late in the season for me and I’d like to give myself enough of a rest and start winter training on time in preparation for the 2016 season.

I’ve got a lot of work to do with my coach, Julie Dodoo, with the hope of qualifying for Rio 2016 and London 2017 (World Championships).

Besides competing, what are you most looking forward to about going to Congo?

I’ve actually never been to any other African country, despite living there for half my life, so it’ll be really nice to cross that off my bucket list. I think it’ll be an adventure.

I’m also looking forward to being part of the team and representing my country for the first time.

Is the next step attempting to qualify for Rio next year?

Definitely. I still consider myself a beginner when it comes to heptathlon, I’ve only ever done five as a senior athlete and there’s so much that I believe I can improve on.

I’m still young so it’s more important for me to have a long as well as a successful career; there’s the World Champs in 2017 then the Commonwealth Games in 2018 that I hope to qualify for and do well at by God’s grace.