Mary Onyali-Omagbemi was born in February 3, 1968.
She was popularly called the queen of Nigerian spirits.
She was brought up in Nigeria by her parents during
her early years. Her father passed away when she was a young child and her
mother was left to raise her and her younger siblings, a sister a two brothers.
As the eldest of four children, much of the responsibilities of child raising
fell strongly upon Mary.
Mary was interested in her philosophy; she did not
want to succumb to the pressure of marrying and having children. Getting
involved in the sport of track and field was more coincidence for Mary.
In her primary school, she participated in sport;
she always seemed to be extremely competitive at everything and always proved
to be the best. During her secondary school years, she competed in the long
jamb, high jump and track events and also continues to win. At this level she
realised that this was something she was good at. She began to love the
competition and the pleasure of winning. This started to affect her studies and
her mum threatens to discontinue her participation in the sport.
After her secondary school, she continues to run,
with hopes that one day she would get news of college scholarship. She competed
and won the junior category championships and went on to compete in the senior
category as a junior and also won, but this was where Mary’s first
disappointment came. By winning the senior category in the 100 and 200 meters
she was chosen to represent Nigeria in Ghana in 1983 in her first international
competition, but the opportunity was stripped from her with the excuse that she
was young and did not have enough experience. After that year, she began to
receive even more recognition and the opportunity to show her talent in 1984,
she again won the senior division and was chosen again to go to kwara.
Unfortunately, the same devastation struck again, she was again denied of her
right to compete in the 100 and 200 meters race as a junior, She defeated the
senior women. Now she was given the opportunity that she deserved the right to
compete in the African games in Cairo, Egypt, only her second major competition.
In 1986, she went on to compete in the world junior championships in Athens,
Greece and left with a silver medal in the 200 meters. From then on she was
recognised as the little Nigeria girl who did not quit and was very likely to
stay.
Recognition came from the then athletic Director of
Lagos, Nigeria who is now her father –in-law. He had maintained a relationship
with the administration at Texas Southern university and introduced them to the
young woman named Mary Onyali. Upon Mary’s return from the African championship
in Cairo, Egypt in 1985, she was on her way to the United States. She was ready
for US Collegiate track and field. The move presented feelings of fear and
nervousness, but yet there was great excitement to leave Nigeria and pursue her
athletic career as well as obtain a free education and make her mother proud.
Mary was on her way to Texas Southern University (1985-1990) where she went on
to become NCAA champion.
In 1990, Mary won silver at the world cup in both
100 and 200 meters and in 1991 she won an African games gold medal in the 100.
She also won the bronze medal in 4x100 metres relay at the 1992 summer
Olympics; she also won the 1994 Commonwealth games. She performed especially
well in the ALL AFRICA GAMES, winning a total of 7 individual medals in the
short sprints. She is very inspirational for many people. Mary took the year
1997 off to have a beautiful baby girl which has been her most rewarding
decision ever made.
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