Brume narrates car crash experience, gets NSC’s $30,000

Olympics bronze medallist, Ese Brume, is yet to overcome what she described as a ‘horrible shock’ following her involvement is a recent car crash in the United States.

Brume, who won for Nigeria a long jump bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a leap of 6.97 metres, survived the crash, but the car she was travelling in with her friend, a Briton, was damaged beyond repair.

She is currently undergoing a therapy on her ankle.

Narrating what happened on that day, Brume told The Guardian: “I was on a journey with my female friend, a Briton, and our car was stuck in the middle of the freeway. In the process of calling 911, an SUV hit us from behind and caused a wreck. It was a total wreck. I was at the passenger’s seat.”

While Brume had a sprained ankle and strained neck injury from the accident, her British friend strained her shoulder, had a brain concussion and some cuts.

“I thank God for sparring our lives but I am yet to fully overcome the shock,” she said.

The horrifying incident in the U.S. notwithstanding, Brume told The Guardian she will be fit to compete in 2025.

“I will return to training as soon as the doctors advise me to do so. I am looking forward to competing in the World Championships and other competitions next year,” Brume stated.

Brume’s bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was Nigeria’s first and only track and field medal at the Olympics since 2008 when Blessing Okagbare grabbed a silver medal in Beijing. Brume has also won numerous medals and accolades, including at the African Games, African Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Championship and other international competitions.

Ese’s mother, Mrs Adaka Sally, a former athlete, praised God for sparring her daughter during the accident.

“I was so scared when I saw the pictures of the wreckage of the car,” she told The Guardian. “But I thank God for His Divine protection upon Ese and her friend.”

For her exceptional talent and dedication to Nigerian sports, the National Sports Commission, during the week, activated the Adopt-an-Athlete Training Grant initiative, with Ese Brume as its first recipient.

The NSC, led by Chairman, Shehu Dikko and Director-General, Bukola Olopade, said the initiative aims to provide financial support for Nigerian athletes’ training and development, ensuring they have the resources needed to compete at the highest levels of global sports.

Speaking at an event to mark a partnership with Confetti Assets Limited, Dikko commended the company for its generous support.

On his part, NSC Director General, Olopade, emphasised the Commission’s commitment to athletes’ welfare and development.

“While we were strategising, something unfortunate happened to Ese Brume. She was involved in a ghastly motor accident, but to God be the glory, her life was spared,” Olopade said.

“When we spoke, I asked her what I could tell the Chairman to do for her immediately. She made me proud when she said, ‘All I need right now is whatever the Commission can give me as a training grant to help me buy a small vehicle so I can continue my training because I want to win the World Championship in September next year.’ That touched me deeply,” Olopade said.

According to Olapade, over 100 other athletes at home and the Diaspora will equally benefit from the disbursement scheduled to start February next year.

“The point is that Ese has started receiving her own training grant, which is part of the $30,000 to help her train and it is the same to almost 108 athletes that are potential podium athletes. Some will get $5000, some in naira for our home based athletes.

“Since the Chairman and later myself came on board, the emphasis has always been on how to change the trajectory of sports and create corporate structure that drives the sports economy. We must start with the welfare of the athletes who matter the most in terms of podium placement,” Olopade stated.