Abeokuta Teen Atinuke Onabiyi Shoots for Olympic Glory with Precision and Passion

In the historic city of Abeokuta, where ancient rocks punctuate the skyline, 16-year-old Atinuke Onabiyi is quietly carving her path in a world of focus and precision. While the city hums with the usual sounds of football and market trade, she finds her rhythm on the shooting range, eyes narrowed, breath steady, and finger poised, Sport360NG reports.

Her journey into shooting began unexpectedly in 2021 during a family outing.

My dad took us to Ijeja Stadium and asked me to choose a sport I’d like to try, “As we walked around, I saw the shooting range for the first time. I thought, ‘What is this sniper doing here?’ They told me it was called shooting, and I became interested immediately.”

That early fascination was rooted in years of watching action films, where skilled marksmen inspired her childhood dream of joining the military.

“I still want to attend a military school,” she said. “It’s been my dream since I was six. After university, I plan to join the Nigerian Defence Academy.”

For now, her military-style discipline channels into her 10-metre air rifle training. Balancing sport and academics in Ekiti demands creativity.

“At school, I do mental training, visualizing my performance, controlling my breath, and reviewing techniques in my head. When I return home, I put it into practice physically,” Onabiyi explained.

Her efforts have paid off. At the 2021 National Youth Games in Ilorin, she earned silver in both individual and team shooting events. Two years later in Asaba, she again took silver individually but clinched gold with her team. Additional silver medals followed at the 2023 National Sports Festival in Asaba and the Chief of Naval Staff Championship.

2024 marked a breakthrough. At the National Youth Games in Asaba, she won her first individual gold in shooting, setting a national record, and also captured gold in the team event.

“The girl I competed against was very talented, but I thank God for the strength to win. It was my first individual gold after multiple silver finishes,” she recalled.

Onabiyi’s athletic pursuits extend beyond shooting. She took up archery in 2021, describing it as “similar to shooting, except with a bow and arrow.” Success followed swiftly. She secured two silvers at the 2022 National Archery Championships in the barebow category, both individually and with her team.

In 2023, she won gold individually and silver with her team at the Edo State Archery Competition. That year, she also added gold in the team event and silver individually at the Olowu School Championships in Abeokuta, earning the Well-Behaved Archer award. She returned in 2024 to claim individual gold, team silver, and the Best Archer of the Year title. Her streak continued with international recognition, including a silver at the Zen Archery International Open Championship in Lagos and further medals at the BASWAG competition.

Remarkably, she has never left an archery tournament empty-handed. Yet, when asked to choose between her two sports for Olympic competition, her choice was immediate.

“I love both, but if I had to choose, I would pick shooting,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to meet an Indian female shooter I admire and compete at Olympic level.”

The road is not without obstacles. Shooting is costly, and Onabiyi notes that archery is easier to practice individually. Her ambition includes acquiring her own bow and arrow for school-based training, where space is limited.

“More time and space for training would make a big difference,” she said.

Her support system has been vital. “My family, especially my dad, has been very involved. My mum helps whenever I need anything. My coach pushes me to compete with stronger opponents, teammates lift me when I’m down, and friends encourage me with promises and prayers.”

Recently, her dedication earned her a call-up to the Nigerian national team, a first step onto the international stage.

“It’s a great achievement to compete for my country,” she said. “I look forward to the African Youth Games and the Youth Olympics.”

Representing Nigeria, she says, will be a source of immense pride. “I imagine the joy of people celebrating if I win gold for the country.”

Looking ahead, Onabiyi envisions herself challenging the world’s top shooters, particularly the Chinese athletes dominating global rankings. Beyond sport, her competitive drive may also find a place in military service, where precision and discipline are equally essential.

Her sporting idols include China’s Wang Zifei and India’s Aujum Moudgil, while her mother remains her personal role model for resilience and support.

For Onabiyi, medals are milestones, not the final destination. Her ultimate goal is straightforward: achieving her personal best and stepping onto the Olympic stage.

“I’m determined to keep training until I achieve my personal bests and participate in the Olympics,” she affirmed.