Divine Oduduru: from poverty to pedestal

Divine Oduduru has become a national sensation in the track world for his dancing, post-race interviews, and encouraging story of rags-to-bags. But just who is this Texas Tech phenom? The committee for track’s most treasured accolade, the Bowerman, believe him to be one of the greatest in the nation. But while Oduduru stands as a finalist for the Heisman equivalent of track & field alongside Grant Holloway (Florida) and Mondo Duplantis (LSU), the road leading to this achievement was bridled with adversity and challenge. Before there was a podium, there was poverty.

Oduduru was born “Ejowvokoghene Divine Oduduru” near Ughelli in Southern Nigeria, 1996. The youngest of ten siblings, Divine…