Purdue Olympian Chukwuebuka Enekwechi reflects on Paris experience

Former Purdue All-American thrower Chukwuebuka Enekwechi had a unique perspective on his Olympic experience.

“It was so different from Tokyo,” says Enekwechi, who competed in Paris for Nigeria, the nation in which he holds dual citizenship. “In Tokyo, we called it the ‘Covid Olympics’. You didn’t get that super-fun experience you dreamed about because you competed in empty, massive venues. I contrast that with what I experienced on August 2nd and 3rd, [when] there were 80,000 fans.

“I have competed in stadiums before in front of 50,000 fans, but when I walked out in Paris to a crowd of 80,000 on prelim day, it was amazing. You are already nervous because it could be the end of your Olympic run, but they swallowed me alive when I saw the capacity crowd. There was a constant buzz in the crowd, and I felt it.”

Enekwechi, a self-proclaimed showman, played to the crowd and was pleased that his overall finish from three years prior was cut in half. He finished sixth in the shot put with a throw of 21.42 meters in Paris after a 12th-place finish in Tokyo.

“A crowd like that can help you, or it can hurt you,” says Enekwechi, who visits Nigeria at least once a year. “You have to know how to channel that. You can’t not do your job and then have as much fun as possible because you will look like a fool. So, the first step is to throw far, and then the next thing is to entertain the crowd.”

Ranked ninth in the world entering the Paris Games, he was pleased to finish higher than his ranking and achieve his goal of qualifying for the next day’s final.

However, there was much more to Enekwechi’s Olympic experience than just his two-day competition. While he was disappointed that he could not experience the opening and closing ceremonies, he did have the chance to watch the track & field events, some beach volleyball, and break dancing. He will never forget being in the infield when the 4×100 mixed relay was run, one of the more memorable events of the Games.

“There is a different vibe for track & field in Europe, and when you add the Olympics on top of that, it is taken into the stratosphere,” says Enekwechi, who also ran into a few ‘stars’ including tennis legend Serena Williams. “I take it one competition at a time, but if I am good enough, I would like to compete in Los Angeles in 2028.”

Enekwechi says he is at his physical peak now, at age 31, and looks forward to continuing training and honing his skills as a coach and instructor in the sport. He expects to spend the rest of his professional life doing these roles.

Purdue was not far from his mind during his memorable time in the City of Light. He ran into fellow Boilermaker track & field athlete Devynne Charlton and watched the Bahamian finish sixth in the 110-meter hurdles. He ran into volleyballer Annie Drews, part of the silver medalist USA squad.

Along with five other Boilermaker greats from years past, the trio of Enekwechi, Charlton and Drews will return to campus in October to be inducted into the Leroy Keyes Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame.

“I get goosebumps when I think about my time at Purdue,” says Enekwechi. “I am a pretty sentimental person, so it is an honor to be an ambassador for the school. That is why I stick around campus and want to pay it forward by helping those who experience some of the same angst and struggles I did.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without Purdue.”

Written by Alan Karpick, publisher of GoldandBlack.com