By Dan Plouffe
Name: SEGUN MAKINDE
Sport: ATHLETICS
Event: 4×100 M RELAY
Age: 21
Associations: OTTAWA LIONS, uOTTAWA GEE-GEES
Previous Olympics: FIRST
Answering your cell phone in church is generally not a very good idea. But when the person on the other end of the line is your son telling you he was just selected to go to the Olympics, then your sins will be forgiven.
In fact, if that athlete happens to be someone as adored in his community as Segun Makinde is, you’d even be allowed to interrupt the sermon and tell everyone about it. That’s what happened at the Lifecentre in Orleans the morning after the Canadian track-and-field Olympic trials when the 21-year-old was named to the 4×100-metre relay team for the London 2012 Games.
“My pastor was preaching at the time, and they told my church,” recounts Makinde. “Everybody knew I was trying to go to the Olympics, so everybody was really excited. Even though I wasn’t there, it was a pretty cool story.”
It was an appropriate setting for the breaking news to be shared first since faith plays a major role in the person Makinde is.
For the Nigerian-born sprinter who moved to Ottawa in 2003 after his father completed a PhD at the University of Alberta and got a job with the government, it all starts with his name – Oluwasegun, which means “God has victory.”
“When you say my name, it’s kind of like affirming that all the time. I go into every race with that in my head,” explains Makinde, who also frequently thinks of the countless people who are behind him. “Going to church and having people around me that support me really helps me to stay on the right track.
“I understand that to be an athlete who’s doing great things, you’re going to be in a bit of the spotlight, I make sure to be that example, or a role model for kids, or people older or younger than me.
“I want to be able to inspire not only kids but people in general.”
Nathalie Côté, Makinde’s former coach at Colonel By Secondary School, affirms that it’s Makinde’s personality that is inspirational just as much as his blazing speed.
“He’s a grounded kid,” says Côté, noting Makinde has a psychological intensity and focus around race time that is rarely seen in athletes. “A lot of kids definitely look up to him. He’s a nice kid too – he’s really got everything.
“Sometimes other athletes may excel, but they’re not the best role model. He truly is a role model – with his faith, and the way he treats people.
“He’s just so nice.”
Record breaker in youth
In high school, it was clear the potential was there for Makinde to achieve big things. An OFSAA triple gold medalist in his graduating year, Makinde broke the scholastic 110 m hurdles record set by Carlton Chambers, a 4×100 m relay gold medalist at the Atlanta Olympics alongside Glenroy Gilbert – now Makinde’s coach with the Ottawa Lions and also the national relay team coach.
“I had this planned back in 2008 after the Beijing Olympics,” recounts the Ottawa Gee-Gees university runner. “My plan was to work really hard and make the team for the world championships in 2009, and the Commonwealth Games in 2010, and the world championships in 2011, and then go to the Olympic Games in 2012.”
It didn’t go entirely according to plan.
“None of that happened,” laughs Makinde, who almost earned the chance to run in the 200 m as well by placing second at the Canadian trials. “It’s interesting that it didn’t happen and yet I still made it to the Olympics.”
Makinde did attend one major international multi-sport Games before London at the 2011 Summer Universiade where he posted a 20.72 time in the 200 m.
“Last year in China, with a packed stadium of about 30,000 people, that was really exciting – just the energy when you walk inside that stadium,” recalls Makinde, who still has to earn his racing position on the team that can draw from seven athletes, although he expects he’s in good enough shape to make it happen.
“I love being able to compete on those really large stages,” he adds. “To go to London and be in front of almost 100,000 people, it’ll be exhilarating to say the least.”
Competition schedule
Fri., Aug. 10 – Round 1, 1:45 p.m. ET
Sat., Aug. 11 – Final, 3 p.m. ET