Table tennis gave me a better life.

Am happy about the whole event as my family and friends are excited too. I am very thankful to God and Mrs Ulaeto, my English teacher who discovered me. She was the one who handed me to coach Effiong Ibok who in inturn left me under the professional training of coach Daniel Umoette. I also appreciate Mrs Janet Bassey, secretary of track and field in Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youths and Sports. I thank all my teammates too as well as everyone that encouraged me.

That's what I wanted! I wanted to be an athlete, I wanted the girls to like me, and I wanted to be able to get good grades in school, and this man said I could do all that.

Translation: For the first time after the great earthquake, I went to the area affected by the tsunami and visited a junior high school in Ishinomaki. I talked about figure skating in front of the students, but they got so excited to know that I was bringing the gold medal in the first place, and they got big smiles on their faces when they saw me. That made me so happy, because their smile made me learn... or realize for the first time that I could cheer up someone who had been going through a tough time because of the disaster. I think I was the most touched and cheered up there.

Today I felt so good when my student flew me. Captain Jibril was one very disciplined and focused student in his primary school, May Allah grant him success in dunya and aqheera (earth and heaven).

It wasn’t for everyone, but I knew it was for me, because I wanted to be the best, and I refused to let anything distract me from that aim. Gordon was, and still is, a brilliant mentor. He was always fair, even if he was very blunt about it – he just wanted perfection.

Yeah, I'm motivated. Because first of all, I play high-level sport. I don't want to disappoint my parents, who gave me the opportunity to do it, nor my country, nor my coach, who has been training me for 10 years, nor my staff. I know there are teams that follow me and encourage me. So this is my way of saying thank you. That's where I draw my determination.

Learners, we are here to celebrate your achievement. We are here to celebrate because you concentrated and did what your parents sent you to do at school. You made us very proud,”