Dr. Chierika “Coco” Ukogu, M.D.: Orthopedic Surgeon talks COVID-19 and Being Nigeria's First Olympic Rower

#003: Chierika “Coco” Ukogu is a recently graduated orthopedic surgeon, Stanford University rowing alumna, and American-born Nigerian professional rower. To top that all off, she competed as Nigeria’s first ever rower in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro… Pause. Re-read the previous two sentences again, more slowly, and for dramatic effect. Yes, now please. Did I mention that we spoke to her during match week? Moving on, she talks about taking part in youth sports in Philadelphia (where she grew up) and the one very specific factor that led her to choose rowing over other sports. Additionally, we quickly discuss what we should be doing during this time of quarantine and social distancing as COVID-19 takes a strong presence in New York City, where she is currently based. To hear more on her journey and her continuing accomplishments, follow her story on Twitter and Instagram @cukogu

Transcript

spk_0:   0:00
it was I, I would say I said I would do it puts me is the team aspect. But then also how how linear it is. Like if you really trained with integrity, you're you can't help but be proud of whatever happens at the end of the day. And I think that that mentality has really permitted so many other aspects of my life. It was kind of, Ah, an accident. But I'm so thankful that I that I ended up rowing.

spk_1:   0:29
Hey, everyone, this is Denise Aquino and you're listening to Growing in color a podcast that amplifies the voices of color and growing. I am flying solo today because my co host, Patricia is unavailable at this time. And given that we're social distancing, virtual recording is not something we have yet to figure out. But more importantly, today we have cherry coke. Oh, boo hoo is not only an Olympic rower. Rest competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, but she is also assumed to be orthopedic surgeon. So, given her medical background, I wanted to hear from her what we should be doing during this pandemic. In addition to her, amazing on very impressive story. So please wash your hands for 20 seconds and enjoy.

spk_0:   1:22
So yes, straight found out it matched. And I will be going to orthopedic surgery. Oh, Friday. I I know where I'm going. So

spk_1:   1:32
Wow. So I contacted you on the most busy week possible.

spk_0:   1:37
E No, I'm just saying Socially isolated.

spk_1:   1:44
Oh, my gosh. Um, yeah, Well, one. Yeah, I guess. In terms of, like, ups and downs one. I'm so sorry. I didn't No,

spk_0:   1:54
No. Okay,

spk_1:   1:55
um, keep busy. But on the other hand, yeah, I'm really happy to be speaking you, so Yeah, I want to I want to value your time more than ever. Now. Oh, cash off, Denise. Um, Okay, moving on. So, um, Coco, how's it going?

spk_0:   2:18
It is going quite well. Um, you know, sort of given the current Corona virus covert 19 outbreak, But I'm just trying thio socially. Isolate. Remain saying that, you know, get through, get through the next few weeks and see what the future holds.

spk_1:   2:39
Yeah. I mean, there isn't exactly someone around who's been through a pandemic that can tell us howto how to go through this. I think we're all just taking it day by day. Um, given Ah, given the current climate and given our push to keep this podcast going to either be a distraction or for folks or help spread some facts about Corona virus Well, I was gonna say, given your medical background, but can you give us just a snapshot of, um who who you are, what your background is and ah, yeah, tell us a little bit more about yourself.

spk_0:   3:18
Sure, sure. So my name is my full name is Cherry Coke. Oh Gu, I go by Coco. I am a first generation Nigerian immigrant. Um and you know, this podcast is all about growing. And I started rowing in price in high school on an all girls team, and we'll get more into that later that I wrote in college and then ended up throwing at the Olympics on Dhe. Now, you know, after that sort of career, I've committed and have been, for the past four years living in New York City, attending Mount Sinai School of Medicine. And so I'm actually in my fourth year fair, just found out that I matched it to orthopedic surgery yesterday on dso with I guess four years of med school under my belt. I'm no expert. I'm no doctor, Fauci. But I will say that, You know, I think, uh, the way that we're reacting, especially now or so as people are taking social isolation and social distancing more seriously, I think that's the right thing to Dio. Um, in my current hospital, we do have confirmed cases at this time. We're not seeing, you know, sort of stress as faras ventilators, and I see you goes, But we we have made changes to make sure that, you know, we're not doing elective surgical cases where we're making sure that we can do with the influx. But we you know, I think there will come a time where things are are sort of tight, like I know with personal protective gear with masts and things like that. You know, we're feeling the pinch in those respects that it's only gonna get worse. So definitely, you know, wash your hands and touching your face, isolate when you can. And then also, I think, reaching out all your friends. If there's somebody that's older in your community that you could maybe help with groceries or helped off their dog, little things that can really go a long way. Especially now, you know, so many people are hurting. I can't imagine what it's like for people that work paycheck to paycheck or in an industry that you know, is now shut down. So I'm just hoping it hoping that this all works out. I think we should just cancel bills for March. Yeah, don't have finances work, but that's possible. Everyone gets, you know, I don't get the past

spk_1:   5:46
Yeah, yeah, just, you know, let's put march on hold. Maybe you made two away. Yeah, yeah, let's let's get this isolation thing town first. Um, do you now? Do you work in the hospital? Currently, like, I just wonder, What's the What's the atmosphere like? It's a tense. Is it? Is it? What is it like?

spk_0:   6:13
So currently, you know, they are doing I as a medical student. I'm not in the hospital, and there they eliminated kind of all unnecessary and non essential staff. I'm so in that sense, it's really people taking direct care. Patients that have tested positive for cov covert 19 are the main attendings. The main doctors. Um, they're really eliminating the amount of nurses that they need, like extra nurses. They also s cars. You know, I'm going to orthopedics. That's completely surgical. And at least at my hospital, they've reduced the amount of residents that are coming into the hospital every day just to make sure that they stay healthy so that in the event that's the attending start getting sick. Then there's more residents to back them up. And there's more surgical residents that can you no back up the internal medicine and the infectious disease people? So there's really a push, the kind of get hospitals geared up to be really focusing on, you know, respiratory illness and everything that happens, you know, with this disease.

spk_1:   7:26
Yeah, yeah,

spk_0:   7:28
I would say it's not. It's, I think it's it's tense, but I think you know, we're taking the necessary steps. Um, you know, we haven't seen anything like this before, and we're just kind of getting accounts from what happened in China and now Italy. So where I know the saying is we're a few days behind, so we're just trying to do what we can, and I know you know. New York City, Washington They're definitely hot spots, and we're just trying to mitigate now, as much as we can.

spk_1:   7:57
Yeah, definitely. As much as possible. And it definitely sounds like, um, hospitals right now are the front line, and I mean it not to steer away from that part of the conversation, but it just makes me so much more proud to be a part of a platform like this. Or we can amplify the voices of, um, future medical professionals of color. And I just really appreciate that I'm really proud to be part of a platform that amplifies that. So thank you again for your time having. Yeah. So, um, going back to rowing and thank you for collaborating. All that. Tell me how you got into rowing. I know you mentioned starting in an all girls all girl school and then and then it Stanford. Um, tell me more about that story.

spk_0:   8:45
Yeah. So, you know, I grew up in Philadelphia, and I'm sure you're listening to this. You love throwing. And Philadelphia's a rowing hub. But before I started growing at melting Joe's Academy come out. I had never seen rowing. I never heard of it. Um And then looking back, I don't know what I was looking at because it's everywhere. There's like statues of scholars all over the city. Boathouse row is like huge, and you can always see people rowing. So I guess I was just oblivious. Um, but it was kind of a happy accident. In great school, I was a cheerleader. Was a competitive cheerleader. Allah cheer on Netflix. Yeah. You know, I I, uh, was traveling. I was working on my backhand spring and I wanted to continue that in high school. And I remember going to cheer tryouts my freshman year. And the coach was like So typically we cheer on the sidelines at the women's basketball game, so I was like, What? This is not competitive. There's no They were like, No studs. It was nothing as I'm not here to play games. So So at that point, I honestly was like I had always done sports. It was kind of like our my parents were like, You have to do a sport, Um, and so I was just pretty much looking for a false or that had open tryouts that I could do before basketball started. Um, soccer. I had played before, but the trial's already happened and So it was between field hockey and rowing, both of which are, you know, typically very privileged sports, neither of which I've ever seen or heard of. And I was just like, I mean, with the field hockey, that stick looks kind of low feeling my back, my hurt and kind of tall Try rowing. It was really like, not not really a conscious, informed decision. But, you know, I I went to the boathouse and I since I started a little later. Um, I don't think they were on the wall. I missed like, all the barge practices. So we're pretty much urging only nothing. What is this, like, kind of show up, but not really. And then and then, you know, I really I think like I had a stern talking to about, like, this is a team sport. You really have to be here for all practice. And then I think once I you know, as I got through the winter, I really bonded with the team. And then once we got to the spring and I was on the water, you know, ended up making like the first freshman boat, and I just loved it. It was it was honestly the first port that I was really good at. Like I was fine. It's I was always athletic, but I wasn't a skilled like in soccer basketball. So it was just so nice. Thio it was, I I would say I said I was here. What puts me is the team aspect. But then also how how linear it is. Like if you really trained with integrity, you're you can't help but be proud of whatever happens at the end of the day. And I think that that mentality has really permitted so many other aspects of my life. It was kind of Ah, an accident. But I'm so thankful that I that I ended up rowing.

spk_1:   12:08
Yeah. I mean, I'm just thankful that you are too too tall to bend down for autistic. Otherwise, I mean, I I think that that what you said about, um if you row with integrity or if you work with integrity, um, that's that's just that resonates with me so much. And I'm here nodding to myself, and I'm just hoping that, you know, I'm not hitting anything as I'm not because I'm just nodding so much. I really I really resonate with that, and I find that a lot of folks who do stick with rowing or are attracted to rowing do resonate with that as well. So that's that's really powerful, speaking to thinking specifically of young people who, especially young young girls of color. Um, but young people in general, if they if they're interested in the sport and let's say they're not from Philly. And let's say they, uh, don't see rowing where they are or they do see rowing where they are but don't recognize it. What What? What would you say to them as someone who has, I don't want to say made it in the sport, but maybe I can because hey, like not everyone's an Olympian or an orthopedic surgeon. Her boat. But what would you say to a young person of color is just getting into the sport right now.

spk_0:   13:34
I mean, I think first of all, you need to see you need to see yourself and envision yourself in a position to be able to think that it's possible if that makes sense, like for me. When I joined my team at Mount their WAAS, um uh, black rower a few years ahead of me, and I remember just looking at her and being like I was immediately drawn to her, I was like, Wow, okay, you know, I'm not the only one. Just that sense of community was was great. And, you know, back then I could count on my fingers like how many people of color I would see at all our races And, like, everyone knew what boat I was in because, you know, I was the only one or she was the only one on. And you know, now, as I'm looking even even in college like I could, there was like, remember, there's a girl on the Princeton team, but there were very few rows of color that I would see it now. You know, as I'm stalking old races, I'm seeing more and more, and I think again, it's just it's about represent representation and that matters so much. Um, and another thing I would say it was like, don't be afraid. Like it's definitely not the typical Sze or that that were exposed to, but that doesn't mean that you're not good enough. You're not going to be good. You you won't like it, you know, And I also think I also think it's hard, though, because it is cost prohibitive. And that was really a struggle for you growing up, like every time I have to ask my parents to pay the dues and then the uniforms are expensive and you travel a lot. You know, that's definitely something that, that is, is it's a downfall of the sport, You know, it's especially when you're in high school, on a high school level. Um, and I think another thing. But just be I don't just just go for it. If there's something about it that you that draws you in, why not just try? But also, I mean, it makes as faras college girls like. If you had told me that you, you know, you're so highly sought after as a collegiate athlete through rowing, you know, I would not have thought twice. I think that's also a key that that a lot of people who come from families of growers, they kind of all know about this, the recruiting and and I mean that can really set you up for life not, you know, being recruited and being ableto Rhoda in college and then, you know, not be saddled with with debt.

spk_1:   16:16
Yeah. Were you were you recruited for Stanford?

spk_0:   16:19
That? Yeah. And I you know, I did the typical recruiting where I went on different official visits. I think you can go on five. I want all of them. And again, I think, like most things in my life, I'm like, Oh, you know, I have a plan. This is what I think of it. That usually it's like a last minute. Oh, I think this is. This is what I'm gonna do. Like with Stanford. I just told my mama's ago I've never been to California and they, like, pay for your flight out there. And everything is well, it's just a free trip. Whatever. And I got there and I was like, I'm coming. She was so pissed. E bar. What did you do it? I was like, No, this is for me. And it was, you know, such an incredible I'm so happy that I went there and I had such formative years there and was able to be a part of that team and a part of that community

spk_1:   17:12
I love because you say that your mom was pissed that you got into that you wanted to go to Stanford

spk_0:   17:18
are close,

spk_1:   17:21
right? Oh, that's that's funny, but I get it. Um, Now, this is this is just a side question. Did you You mentioned that when you were, um, rowing. Ah, on the east Coast that you were Often, if not always the only black girl are the only person of color in your boat. Did you Did you see a change when you wrote on the West Coast?

spk_0:   17:48
I say not really. Not really. And I think I think also at the collegiate level, like I not really either.

spk_1:   17:58
That's interesting. Where you can you pick out a time when you weren't the only person of color a black person in your boat?

spk_0:   18:07
Yeah. So in my one of one of my teammates, actually, that's at Stanford, actually. Know of number? I think there were 33 of us at one point on the stand for team, which was great. And then and then even as I I think even now more on the high school level because I still check in with, you know, just looking at pictures from my from my old high school team. And I'm seeing more and more people of color either on their team or like on other teams that we typically raise. Um and even I think I think generally, in college there, there are more people now, uh, which is great to see?

spk_1:   18:44
Yeah, Yeah, I agree. It's Ah, It's like one. I can count more than five out of regard. I'm like, Wow, Double. Well, that's that's interesting to hear. Especially since Ah, I guess what? The trajectory and what the trajectory of change could be. Not that their statistics on this, but, well, you said you wrote at Stanford, did you? And I know that you mentioned you rowed in the Olympics. Did you immediately? Like what? What was the step between Stanford in the Olympics?

spk_0:   19:18
Yeah. So, you know, I finish row, So I graduated in 2014 and from day one, I always do that. I wanted to go to med school, and it was That was my focus. I binged in human biology, and so everything was taking the prerequisites, doing everything to get me prepared for medical school. And my last year, I you know, I was like, I'm gonna take one year off and you like a research job, and then I'll start mezut medicine. And during my last year's a car championship season, and I'm studying to take the M Cat, which is the entry test for I'm med school. And then I was also I wrote a thesis that I was working on and picked up a minor in classics. So I was doing a lot during, you know, that had to cram into that final quarter. You're so you know as well as with these things something had to give. So I, you know, ended up stopping my m cat studying and kind of getting through the rest of it finished with the great season and finish my thesis got my minor, Um and then because of, like the time that you need to take the test of them be able to apply. I was now looking at two years off, and so that was obviously not what I wanted because I had a plan supposed be only one year, and I was supposed to start, You know why I only wanted to take one year? I don't know, looking back, but, you know, I had when I had this time, I moved back home and you know, I had I had had so many incredible teammates at Stanford Out Logan Grace Loose act. Name is Yoo hoo rowed in the Olympics and just and even just general classmates. Like, I think, they said, if Stanford was a country in 2016 it would have gotten ninth overall like they're so many amazing athletes and scholar athletes at Stanford. So I think just being in that culture of excellence, um, it was always kind of in the back of my mind to represent Nigeria. So pretty much I was like, You know, I have these two years now, and so why not? Why not just go for it? Um, and I wish I could say Oh was easy. They recognized me immediately. Was I wrote for. First of all, since there was no Nigerian team, I had to learn how to ride the single. I had only wrote in eighths and fours, and I was always the girl like when I saw a single growing by, I'd be like, You know what? I would just cause myself to flip because that looks awful. How can you be by yourself like I need a Cox and I need my team dates. So that mental hurdle was probably the hardest. Like, I want to be, like, 18 months of my life, just like just just getting into a race, feeling the pain of a race. But then not having a cox in or people to kind of, like, motivate you like I'm I'm I would never give up on other people. But for me, you know, some of the races I was just take one match, Drew. Excuse me, another one. Another one that nearly paddling down. So for a lot of people, they get to do that on a small stage and like some of my first biggest races and worst races were like worlds. So, you know, it was hard in the beginning, but it was, um it was, I think I think what was incredible word was two things. One being able to represent Nigeria individual citizen. And, you know, being the first person from that country thio be represented in sport of rowing was such an honor, because again, just like people of color here aren't as well represented Rowing. They're definitely not well represented in Nigeria or even on the concept in continent in general. Um and then secondly, just just just being ableto showcase that you can, you know, you can reach your dream Is he just kind of If you just try like there's support around you and it's OK, toe, take a risk and it's okay when things don't go as planned, but just try and reframe.

spk_1:   23:36
So let me back up for a second when you say you're the first Olympic rower from Nigeria or from that continent are used, also saying that you're the first Olympic rower from Africa.

spk_0:   23:48
No, so not from Africa. Just I met from the continent in general in general is not well represented in rowing, but typically South Africa and North African countries are represented. ***. There was, ah, male who wrote the in 2012 but typically Zimbabwe's. Also, they usually feel the rower, but that's pretty much it. Like sub Saharan Africa is not well represented or was not. My year. There was a woman from Togo and then me who we're from sub Saharan Africa. That's not like South Africa and Zimbabwe, and they're typically not. I have something that I didn't know is that typically, like growing up here and being sort of in the eighth and four worlds. That's what we focus on. But a lot of other countries, I only have one corner, two rowers, so they're in single or in the double. And I mean, I definitely did not follow singles racing until I

spk_1:   25:00
well, I mean, I'm looking in the photos and you look like you look like you're doing a great job. I think, um, e do have one last question for you and it's actually, um, I told someone I was going to be talking to you. So let's say there's someone out there now. I can't be like It's hypothetical. No, let's say there's there's There's a young rower out there who, um ah, she's got, you know, 56 years of rowing under her belt and she's in college now, and, um wants to row in the Olympics for her, her home country and her parents home country, which is Dominican Republic. But D R doesn't have any growing or has ever had any Olympic rowing in years past. What's something that she could be could do or could do to plan to make that goal happen, throwing in the Olympics and representing representing in her home country and her parents home country.

spk_0:   26:02
Yeah. I mean, I think she already took the first step, which is having this idea that having this goal, um, for me, I was very blessed to have the support of boathouse Row. I wrote out a Vesper trained with, um with coaches that were also training the women's lightweight double for the US um, and the coach that I had, he was very well connected with Visa, which is the rowing governing body for for rowing. It's like FIFA. And so he really advocated for me. Um, John Parker was his name, and he really advocated for Mi Teoh like through Fiesta to get the Nigerian like Olympic Committee to recognize me. Because for a while I was just kind of sending blind emails to them and not getting some responses. Not really, because they weren't they didn't have a team, so they didn't really prepare to have coaches or any of this. And I just came out of nowhere, like high. I want a row so kind of connecting with coaches that have experience on that higher governing body through Visa is a great way to get involved. Reaching out to the the d. R. If they have other water sports, you know, from for me, there's also the growing body also covers canoeing and kayaking. Um, and there were Nigerian athletes that were the Olympics for those sports, so reaching out to them getting their contacts was also helpful. And then, from there, you know there are qualification. Regard us. Usually you can qualify at worlds the year before. Then there's an African continent qualifier. There's an Asian qualifier. Then there's a lot of American Qualifier Um, and I think it's like top four. The rules change every year, but there, I think, just getting well versed in the qualification, like how qualification happens, getting well versed in what competition is out there and sort of how you fare. At this point, if you don't know how to run the single, you should probably learn, because with those with those qualifications, Reygadas, it's typically only women single or women's lightweight double. So depending on your weight, you can. Or if you have a partner, you can figure out it. That's the route you want to go, but yeah, you know, I think it's definitely possible that ISA similar to Michael's they are trying to increase inclusivity and diversity in the sport of rowing. I think they're doing a good job as Harrah's in these continental qualifiers in opening up more spots for countries that are typically represented. And, you know, hope I'm praying and hoping that the Tokyo Olympics will still go on this year. But you will definitely see a lot of, um, rowers representative from the continent that weren't have never been there before. Woman from Uganda. There's another Nigerian rower that's just qualified. So I think, you know, I think it's working, and I think it's just nice to sort of be part of a legacy.

spk_1:   29:25
I really appreciate the the detailed advice that you gave their fur For those who are interested in competing in the Olympics for their countries, and I think fees Ah, or FIFA uh, I think someone might get a lot of e mails now, Um, if if there are a bunch of arm punch of rowers of color in the 2024 Olympics, I think we'll have to zoom back to this interview and maybe get some shout outs Or some, you know, like free tickets, the Olympics. Because I think I think that ah, feedback in, um, feedback on the process could go a long way. I am so grateful. Do you have anything else to add for our our listeners or anybody out there in the world of rowing?

spk_0:   30:16
I would say, you know, for me I said it before. I love growing because pretty much what you put into it. So what? You get out and then also I think it instills to be corny, like the sense of limitless nous. Like when you have a coach that's like, Get on the ERG, sit on your head and do like 90,000 K and then run 10 miles with your eyes closed. You know, just seasons we've all had, those workouts were like, Why not like, how is that even humanly possible? But then you get through it, and I think just having done that, I built so much confidence in so many other aspects of my life. I mean, I think that's the point of sports, right? Like you, you build confidence in yourself in your body and what you're able to do. And, you know, hopefully you carry that out in all aspects of your life. Um and so I think that's what I'd like to leave people with. And also, if they are interested in connecting with me of all on social media, on Twitter and Instagram, My handle's at sea UK Ogu. I'm always interested in, you know, connecting with people, connecting them as much as they can. Like I know after the Olympics, people reached out to me with similar questions like how I am an equestrian jumper. How do I represent Puerto Rico or whatever? So I think doing what I can is part of It's part of my process of my journey and something that I want to continue to. D'oh!

spk_1:   31:51
Well, thank you so much. And I Hey, just have a feeling that you're just about getting started, you know, Olympian orthopedic surgeon who knows what's next. Thank you for listening to rolling and color to learn more about Coco. Find her on Twitter and instagram at C u ko jee you. And while you're there, find us on Instagram at rowing in color and give us a follow or like or both stay safe. We're thinking of you