Recess and gym class, two things every young child looks forward to each day at school. Accomplished volleyball star Ogonna Nnamani didn’t know what it felt like to participate in such activities until she was nine years old. The now Bejing Games medalist fought a grueling match against asthma as a young girl. Nnamani recalls staying indoors during recess and instead focusing on academics. Today, she has grown into a talented athlete; mean while the early attention in the classroom has paid off too.

I recently had the opportunity to meet and interview Ogonna Nnamani. Her contagious smile, bright attitude and outlook on life was remarkable. She has worked extremely hard to become the athlete she is today and proves to be an example, a role model and a great person.

As a young girl, Ogonna Nnamani had great admiration for Jackie Joyner-Kersee. In the recent interview, this admiration was noted in the way Nnamani spoke of the track and field star. Nnamani wanted to run and compete in athletics similar to idol Joyner-Kersee. However, like recess, she thought that too would be impossible. After seeing a commercial for an asthma inhaler that featured Joyner-Kersee, Nnamani soon realized nothing was impossible. Today Nnamani shares her story, a story of set backs, struggles, hard workand over coming the odds. Nnamani says that after seeing a doctor and receiving asthma medication, she began participating in athletics. Her hand eye coordination was terrible, she was uncoordinated, but her newfound love for sports and the support of her family kept her active.

Her persistence paid off and the determined Nnamani molded into a high profile high school volleyball player. She soon faced the difficult decision of selecting a college. Schools in 49 of the 50 states recruited her, leaving many options. Nnamani went on to have a phenomenal collegiate career at a high caliber institution on the west coast. Why here you ask? Nnamani had excelled in the classroom and being an avid Saved by the Bell fan, Nnamani was exposed to the academic advantage at the top-notch university. Nnamani recalled hearing the show’s character Jessie Spano speak highly of the prestigious school. Nnamani knew the difficulty of being accepted at Stanford, but said that she had to try. If she didn’t get in, at least she knew she shot for the best. While at Stanford, Nnamani was named a four time All-American; she aided in the university’s two National Championship wins and graduated with a degree in Human Biology.

Nnamani studied Human Biology with every intention to become a medical doctor. Now,the skilled international volleyball player carriers her MCAT study books with her on trips and hopes to return to the classroom to pursue her dream. Nnamani tells young girls to look around and find a 50-year-old volleyball star. She suggests they don’t exist. She urges young athletes to stay up on studies and work hard in the classroom; every athletic career has its end. Nnamani currently plays in Turkey and will not yet hang up her jersey, but continues to prepare for her future. A well-rounded, intelligent woman, Ogonna Nnamani overcame the odds and has made her name in volleyball. In the near future the polished athlete may be signing her autographs as Dr. Ogonna Nnamani.

-Allison O'Brien