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Meet the women of Nigeria’s bobsled team – the first to make the Winter Olympics from Africa

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(CNN) - Nigeria is headed to the Winter Olympics next year for the first time ever, after its women's team qualified in the bobsled. They’re also the first African nation to qualify in the sport.

In large part, the achievement is due to Seun Adigun, one of the three women on the squad. She put together a make-shift sled out of scraps of wood and metal to get the team started. She also launched a GoFundMe campaign to finance her journey to South Korea.

“This is beyond the dream come true, you know, to be able to bring something back to not only the country of Nigeria,” Adigun said, “but also to the continent of Africa.”

Born in the United States to Nigerian parents, Adigun isn’t a newcomer to the Olympic experience. She competed in the 100-meter hurdles in the Summer Games in 2012.

The 2018 Winter Olympics begin February 9 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

 

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