Funmi Jimoh Quotes
born 1984
Funmilayo Kemi Jimoh (born May 29, 1984), commonly known as Funmi Jimoh, is an American long jumper, who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Random Funmi Jimoh quote
15 quotes
I think that’s important for people to know.
Rice has a really special place in my heart.
In addition to that, Rice is a pretty tough place to be at because of the requirements and expectations academically, and my resiliency was battle-tested.
I had that vision that I can reach a high level because that’s the culture that was instilled in me.
The best thing was being able to be there with some of my favorite people, to be honest. Jim Bevan, who’s the track coach here at Rice — he was there with me.
When I came to Rice, a lot of emphasis was placed on being amongst the best. So already the thought process of being amongst the best is something that became ingrained in my mind.
I think that a lot of times we lean towards the things that we’re good at. And I remember seeing a high jumper named Tisha Waller on TV and people like Flo-Jo (Florence Griffith Joyner).
I think being able to persevere through that sharpened me. Rice was one of the most challenging things that I made it through, and I really felt as though I could do anything after that.
I believe in the true student-athlete, which I think we have here. And I’m looking forward to what looks like a really good collaboration throughout the whole university. Rice is amazing already, but I can see the elevation of Rice Athletics, and I want to be a part of it too.
I feel as though it just continues to elevate what I want for myself. The ethos that we live by is ‘once an Olympian, always an Olympian.’
My mom got to come with me. One of my best friends Andrea Blackett, she was an assistant track coach at Rice and was the coach for Barbados at that time; she was there.
It’s an honor and one that I take super seriously on and off the field. I want to be a good example to people who looked up to me the same way I looked up to Olympians before me.
I love the sport and I’m a student of it, so I get really involved in it. That’s how I learned, was from people who are incredibly passionate, and you could tell by the way that they spoke about it.
My ‘from’ story is interesting. I was born in Seattle, Washington, then came to Houston when I was 2. I lived in Houston until I was 10, and then I lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
I’m getting married this year, so I might have to stop saying this, but being at the Olympics was the best time of my life — period. It was the best experience you could ever have.