Eke Makes History in Qualifying for 2021 Olympic Games
5/28/2021 12:44:00 PM | Men's Gymnastics, Olympics
CAIRO, Egypt -- University of Michigan men's gymnastics alumnus Uche Eke (2016-20) became the first Nigerian gymnast ever to qualify for the Olympic Games at the African Gymnastics Championships on Thursday (May 27).
Eke took bronze in the all-around and hit all six events. He began the competition with a 13.350 on pommel horse and added a 13.700 on vault as well as a pair of 12.450s on parallel bars and high bar.
After serving as a graduate assistant coach for the Wolverines during the 2021 season, he received a master's degree from Michigan's School of Information in May with a 4.0 GPA. He will become the third Wolverine since 2012 to appear in the Olympics, following the path of Sam Mikulak (USA) and Syque Caesar (Bangladesh). Mikulak competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, while Caesar participated in 2016.
Mikulak is one of four other gymnasts with ties to the Wolverines who are attempting to qualify for Tokyo. He and alum Adrian de los Angeles will compete at the US Championships (June 4-6) in Fort Worth, Texas, while current U-M gymnasts Cameron Bock and Paul Juda will take part in the Pan-Am Gymnastics Championships (June 3-6) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, all with their eyes set on earning a spot on the US Olympic team. All four have qualified for the US Olympic Team Trials, scheduled for June 24-27 in St. Louis, Mo.
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