- University of Calgary
- Sport: Rugby/Wrestling
- Year of eligibility: 5
- Academic Program: Arts
- Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Temitope Ogunjimi finishes her career as one of the most decorated student-athletes in University of Calgary Dinos history. Now, she’ll look to make history as the first in her sports to capture the BLG Award.
Neither wrestling nor rugby have ever captured the BLG Award, male or female, in the honour’s 25-year history – something the 22-year-old Calgarian and aspiring lawyer could rectify with a win June 4 in Vancouver.
After immigrating to Canada from Nigeria at age 10, sport was a way in to the community for Ogunjimi. She took up wrestling in junior high school at the suggestion of a teacher and found it was a good way to make friends, and she enjoyed the sport. She added rugby in high school, having always enjoyed running.
After graduating from Calgary’s Centennial High School, she enrolled at the University of Calgary in September 2013 initially intending to pursue an engineering degree before settling on a law and society major, setting her up for her long-time dream of attending law school. Athletically, she focused on wrestling and captured her first of five consecutive Canada West gold medals in 2014, earning conference Rookie of the Year honours after her win at 59 kg. She jumped up to 63 kg a year later, winning the conference title in that weight class for three consecutive years.
Ogunjimi added varsity rugby to her plate in the fall of 2016, joining the Dinos program and helping them capture their first-ever Canada West title and a trip to the U SPORTS championship, where they won the bronze medal. She was named an All-Canadian along with a conference all-star after scoring five tries in the Canada West semifinal. Back on the wrestling mat, she won a third straight CW gold medal at 63 kg.
Heading into her last season of varsity competition, Ogunjimi was back on the rugby pitch where she again earned All-Canadian status as the Dinos won their second straight conference title and finished fourth at the national championship. With her focus back to wrestling in 2018, she moved up to 67 kg and won a fifth straight Canada West title and headed to the U SPORTS championships in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., in search of that elusive national title. In the final bout of her university career, Ogunjimi climbed the mountain to take home U SPORTS gold, then added Outstanding Wrestler of the Year honours as well as the national Student-Athlete Community Service Award to her portfolio.
She added another gold medal to her collection at the Wrestling Canada senior national championships in March, winning the 68 kg weight class. On Apr. 3, Ogunjimi was named the University of Calgary’s female athlete of the year.
“For sports like wrestling and rugby, this kind of recognition is important – these are sports where athletes at the varsity level go on to represent Canada, and recognition like this helps them continue to grow in prominence. Personally, this makes me feel like the work I’ve put in over five years is being recognized," said Ogunjimi. "It hasn’t always been easy, battling through injuries and trying to get to the top, and it makes me happy because people can see that the work I have put in is being recognized, especially because everyone thought I was crazy for trying to attempt both sports! Finally, this will help show my parents and my family that being a competitive athlete hasn’t been a waste of time – I’ve learned to make connections, be part of a team, to deal with adversity, and other valuable lessons that will help me for the rest of my life.”
“Temitope Ogunjimi has been a dedicated member of our Dinos wrestling team for five years,” said Dinos wrestling head coach Mitch Ostberg. “She has grown into a leadership role with the team and has been a performance leader this season. Her volunteer activities and warm personality add a counterpoint to her fierce competitive nature. Temi always adds some energetic whoops to any team celebration.”