Imaobong Nse Uko

Imaobong Nse Uko (born 20 February 2004) is a Nigerian athlete.

Quotes

• Am happy about the whole event as my family and friends are excited too. I am very thankful to God and Mrs Ulaeto, my English teacher who discovered me. She was the one who handed me to coach Effiong Ibok who in inturn left me under the professional training of coach Daniel Umoette. I also appreciate Mrs Janet Bassey, secretary of track and field in Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youths and Sports. I thank all my teammates too as well as everyone that encouraged me.
  • Akanimo Kufre, Imaobong Uko, World's Fastest U18 Female Quarter-miler Thanks English Teacher who first spotted her ‘Sprinting Legs.”, The Southern Examiner, September 07, 2021.
• It was very tough because of the weather. This is just the beginning of great things in my career. My coach and I really worked hard on this. I’m so excited; it would only get better. Coming here to make so much impact makes me feel so happy. It means more hard work, but the future is so bright.
  • Uko wins World Athletics U20 400m gold, says it’s just beginning, Extra Sports, August 21, 2021.
• I am happy that things are working out well and I thank God for the progress made so far. I come from a riverine area in Ibeno local government area where I used to help my parents to catch crayfish. I am equally grateful to my parents and my coaches who are keeping me on my toes. I look forward to having a successful career in athletics.
  • Imaobong Uko, the twinkling little star of Nigerian athletics, Daily Trust, August 28, 2021.

Quotes about Imaobong

• I think that was 2016 during inter-house sports, she was in Yellow House. I just looked at her and said can this one do anything? But she surprised everybody, I gave her the name ‘Kenya’ when I saw her sprinting legs. I told her you are going places.
  • Mrs Cicilia Eno Ulaeto as quoted in Imaobong Uko, World's Fastest U18 Female Quarter-miler Thanks English Teacher who first spotted her ‘Sprinting Legs.”, The Southern Examiner, September 07, 2021.
• Imaobong you have done well, the governor is proud of you, the whole state is proud of you and we are happy that you have not disappointed us. As you are leaving for the United States, please do not lose focus, trust God, work harder and do the best you can at all times.
  • Sir Monday Uko as quoted in Imaobong Uko, World's Fastest U18 Female Quarter-miler Thanks English Teacher who first spotted her ‘Sprinting Legs.”, The Southern Examiner, September 07, 2021.
• I feel so elated, how I wish I could see her with my eyes now, oh how I will hug her. I told her to trust God for everything, and God is with her. Am so elated.
  • Mrs Cicilia Eno Ulaeto as quoted in Imaobong Uko, World's Fastest U18 Female Quarter-miler Thanks English Teacher who first spotted her ‘Sprinting Legs.”, The Southern Examiner, September 07, 2021.
• The duo of Imaobong Nse Uko (400m) and Udodi Onwuzurike (200m) won individual gold medals while the 4x400m mixed and the women’s relay teams also won our first ever relay gold medals at the Championships.
  • Sunday Dare as quoted in Sports Minister Salutes Nigerian U20 Athletes On Record Breaking Performance, New Telegraph, August 23, 2021.
• I started coaching her (Imaobong) in 2017. That was before the National Sports Festival in Abuja. As a matter of fact, she was discovered during the Akwa Ibom Youth Games and I have been coaching her since then. I must appreciate her parents who were gracious enough to release her to us. We were almost strangers then but they allowed her to live with the secretary of Akwa Ibom sports commission who also acted as her godmother. Training her was not easy because she was going to school. While I coached others in the day, I coached her in the evening whenever she returned from school.
  • Daniel Umoette as quoted in Imaobong Uko, the twinkling little star of Nigerian athletics, Daily Trust, August 28, 2021.