Wrestler Emmanuel Ogbonna John: "My aim is not to rule Africa, but the world"
Since switching his focus from street fights to the wrestling mat, the Nigerian star has won five African titles. Here, the 22-year-old tells Olympic Channel how he plans to rise to the top of the world.
Wrestling
Emmanuel Ogbonna John is only 22, but he is already a four-time African champion.
After deciding to channel his energy and strength on the mat, the rising star has dominated Nigerian and continental wrestling.
As a young teen, he would be challenged to fights on the street and at school, which he easily dominated. It wasn't long before he tried wrestling.
Ahead of the 2021 Olympic qualifiers, Ogbonna John has made winning the sport's top medals his objective.
“I am looking beyond just qualifying for the Olympics and being an Olympian. I aim to become an Olympic champion,” he told the Olympic Channel.
John is eager to build on his recent wins and follow the footsteps of fellow wrestlers from his home in Ondo State, a region that has produced some of the country’s top talent in the sport.
“My aim is not to rule Africa but rule the world.” Emmanuel Ogbonna John to the Olympic Channel.
The hotbed of Nigerian Wrestling
Outside school, John described himself as a 'fighter' who fought reigned supreme in the Ondo State streets, in the south-west of Africa’s most populous nation. He earned bragging rights but still did not derive any satisfaction from the impromptu bouts.
“One day I thought to myself that all the strength I use to fight on the streets, I can use it elsewhere,” the 22-year-old recalled.
“The last fight I had in school is what led me to the sports complex. I went to the stadium and saw people wrestling and I told myself, ‘Wow even I can do this. Instead of fighting everywhere, I can wrestle to make money!’ I concentrated all my strength and efforts on the mat and began training as a wrestler.”
"I loved wrestling, and I only realised it after I started training. People now know that this guy is a wrestler and not just a fighter.” - Emmanuel Ogbonna John
“Once I started, I quickly moved up to the junior ranks where I set records, and then started competing in the senior events in Nigeria and outside.”
He was following a path well-walked by others from his state.
Double Commonwealth Games champions Aminat Adeniyi and Odunayo Adekuoroye, the first Nigerian to clinch silver at the World Championships, and African champions Bisola Makanjuola and Esther Kolawole honed their skills in the same tournaments.
“Knowing and training with some of the best like Aminat and Adekuoroye gave me a lot of confidence. When you watch them in competitions you get very encouraged,” said John who also works with coach Purity Akuh, the man who has trained tens of Nigerian wrestlers including the top female wrestlers.
“The iron monkey”
In what was a perfect start to his senior career, John won the 2017 African championships at his first attempt in Marrakech.
He comfortably defended his title the following year, when he also debuted at the World Championships (U23) and even topped the world rankings at 70kg in freestyle momentarily.
“I told myself I must win back-to-back. I won all my fights because I prepared for the worst that was going to happen and I trained very hard,” he said after his second title.
His agility and speed on the mat earned him the nickname 'the iron monkey'.
“When I started wrestling, my coach started calling me ‘monkey shadow’. The name stuck and when I joined the national team, it changed a bit and they started calling me ‘iron monkey, iron monkey, iron monkey’.”
Despite playing catchup in 2019 as he moved up to the 74kg division, John maintained the continental top spot.
Winning his fourth title in Algeria last February, five months after clinching gold at the Africa Games in Rabat, made him vocal about his future plans.
“I was happy to win the fourth African title in Algiers. But my aim is not to rule Africa, but the world," he said.
“My dream is to get to the semi-finals or even snatch a bronze at the world stage. But for now I have the 2021 Olympic qualifiers. I am working day and night to defend my African title and qualify top. In Nigeria we have the capability. We just need to get our athletes exposed more at top events,” the Nigerian wrestler said of his potential path to qualifying for the Tokyo Games after the cancellation of the 2020 World Championships due to the pandemic.
The African and Oceania Olympic qualifier is tentatively scheduled for March 12-14 in El Jadida, Morocco.
"What I want now is to make records, win more titles and have fame in my career. And then things like money will come. I love wrestling, it’s a sweet sport. I am sure the joy I derive in it will pay off.” Emmanuel Ogbonna John to the Olympic Channel.
John is realistic about his chances in a weight class dominated by Russian and American wrestlers.
American Jordan Burroughs won gold at London 2012 while Russia’s reigning Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev is considered ‘the best active wrestler in the world’ right now.
Their success is a major source of inspiration.
“When you look at Sadulaev, his style is just the best. I love his wrestling and my dream is to attain the heights he has achieved. Sadulaev is someone who doesn’t give up whether he is losing or winning. I aim to become an Olympic champion like him.”