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Olympic medallist pursues dreams despite injury
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March 5, 2003
Daniel Igali dreams of chasing more gold. But his biggest accomplishment these days is managing a short walk around the block.
The Olympic wrestling champion underwent major neck surgery Feb. 20, after a stubborn pain first noticed before Christmas reappeared upon his return from a visit home to Nigeria. Tests revealed he had a herniated disk. The disk was removed and a small plate inserted. During the operation, the disk was taken from the front left side of his neck, in order to save cutting precious muscle tissue from the back. Doctors expect he will make a full recovery.
Igali emailed his family to tell them the news after the surgery, which came in the middle of a busy spring season of training and competing in a new weight class. The move has the former 69 kg wrestler up against competitors in the 74 kg category. It’ll be at least two months before he can get back on a mat.
"Wrestling is the furthest thing from my mind," concedes Igali, who was released from Vancouver General Hospital Feb. 23. Since then he has taken short daily walks but finds it a struggle to turn his head and swallow. "All that matters to me right now is to be healthy again.
"I feel confident that I will be back," adds the 29-year-old, looking ahead to one day having a job and family. "But this is different for me. I’ve always thought that if I’m going to make a call about where I go with wrestling, I want it to be on my own terms. In this case, I have to wait and see how the healing process goes. It looks good, but I realize how much I value my health. I want to be 40 and playing soccer with my kids."
The surgery follows a month of speaking engagements and promotion of his other dream — building a school for the children of Eniwari, Nigeria. Momentum for the project has been building since his public appearance at an SFU basketball game on Feb. 7, which raised money — more than $3,000 — for the project.
Since then he has spoken to school groups in Ontario and most recently, West Vancouver, signing photo cards illustrating his Olympic gold medal presentation. His talks prompt a stream of small donations, and emails.
"Hearing about what life is like for these African kids always touches something," he says. "It’s encouraging to see that concern among young people."
Igali needs to raise another $240,000 towards his $300,000 for the school, which he hopes will serve to educate the community about other issues, such as AIDS. The foundation has been laid. There are also plans for a water-well, a solution to the village’s high mortality rate.
Igali’s surgery also interrupted his second semester as a graduate student in the school of criminology, though he is still hopeful he can complete his assignments this term. Igali can then begin his research on the role of multinational corporations in international terrorism.
"Something like this just stops you in your tracks," he says. "Things don’t always happen the way you want.
"We all pray for good health," he adds. "That has become my focus."
To learn more about Igali’s Eniwari project or to donate contact him at danieligali@aol.com
—30—
(digital photo available)
Contact
Marianne Meadahl/Julie Ovenell-Carter, Media & PR 604.291.4323; marianne_meadahl@sfu.ca
Steve Frost, Athletics Media office, 604.291.4057; steven_frost@sfu.ca
The Olympic wrestling champion underwent major neck surgery Feb. 20, after a stubborn pain first noticed before Christmas reappeared upon his return from a visit home to Nigeria. Tests revealed he had a herniated disk. The disk was removed and a small plate inserted. During the operation, the disk was taken from the front left side of his neck, in order to save cutting precious muscle tissue from the back. Doctors expect he will make a full recovery.
Igali emailed his family to tell them the news after the surgery, which came in the middle of a busy spring season of training and competing in a new weight class. The move has the former 69 kg wrestler up against competitors in the 74 kg category. It’ll be at least two months before he can get back on a mat.
"Wrestling is the furthest thing from my mind," concedes Igali, who was released from Vancouver General Hospital Feb. 23. Since then he has taken short daily walks but finds it a struggle to turn his head and swallow. "All that matters to me right now is to be healthy again.
"I feel confident that I will be back," adds the 29-year-old, looking ahead to one day having a job and family. "But this is different for me. I’ve always thought that if I’m going to make a call about where I go with wrestling, I want it to be on my own terms. In this case, I have to wait and see how the healing process goes. It looks good, but I realize how much I value my health. I want to be 40 and playing soccer with my kids."
The surgery follows a month of speaking engagements and promotion of his other dream — building a school for the children of Eniwari, Nigeria. Momentum for the project has been building since his public appearance at an SFU basketball game on Feb. 7, which raised money — more than $3,000 — for the project.
Since then he has spoken to school groups in Ontario and most recently, West Vancouver, signing photo cards illustrating his Olympic gold medal presentation. His talks prompt a stream of small donations, and emails.
"Hearing about what life is like for these African kids always touches something," he says. "It’s encouraging to see that concern among young people."
Igali needs to raise another $240,000 towards his $300,000 for the school, which he hopes will serve to educate the community about other issues, such as AIDS. The foundation has been laid. There are also plans for a water-well, a solution to the village’s high mortality rate.
Igali’s surgery also interrupted his second semester as a graduate student in the school of criminology, though he is still hopeful he can complete his assignments this term. Igali can then begin his research on the role of multinational corporations in international terrorism.
"Something like this just stops you in your tracks," he says. "Things don’t always happen the way you want.
"We all pray for good health," he adds. "That has become my focus."
To learn more about Igali’s Eniwari project or to donate contact him at danieligali@aol.com
—30—
(digital photo available)
Contact
Marianne Meadahl/Julie Ovenell-Carter, Media & PR 604.291.4323; marianne_meadahl@sfu.ca
Steve Frost, Athletics Media office, 604.291.4057; steven_frost@sfu.ca