Breaking Barriers Through Sport: A Conversation with Simi Adeagbo, Olympian and Founder of the SimiSleighs Foundation
** This article started as a live conversation with Simi and was condensed with the original quotes left intact for context.
Featuring: Simi Adeagbo, Olympian and Founder of the SimiSleighs Foundation
Editing by: Sean Francis
In this edition of SnoQap Spotlight, we are honored to speak with Simi Adeagbo, a trailblazing Olympian and founder of the SimiSleighs Foundation. Simi made history as the first Black female Olympian in skeleton racing and Africa's first female skeleton athlete. Her accomplishments extend beyond the track, as she is also the author of the children's book Sleigh, Sleigh, Sleigh All Day and a public speaker committed to empowering women and girls worldwide.
"[I have] many firsts that I'm proud of but being first is something that, for me, represents leadership and allows me to open doors of possibility for others to come behind me."
— Simi Adeagbo
The SimiSleighs Foundation: Building a Better World for Girls and Women Through Sport
Simi founded the SimiSleighs Foundation to leverage the power of sport in empowering girls and women. The foundation operates with a two-pronged approach:
Athlete Grant Program: This initiative supports elite female athletes, providing financial assistance for training and competition expenses. Beyond financial support, the program focuses on leadership development, helping athletes use their platforms to inspire and lead others in their communities.
Leadership Program: Targeting adolescent girls aged 14-17, this program aims to instill leadership competencies through a curriculum inspired by Simi's journey as an Olympian. The curriculum covers focus, imagination, risk-taking, service, and tenacity—skills critical for personal and community leadership.
"[Our Curriculum] focuses on helping them build connections. There's a mentoring aspect to it. There's a movement aspect to it because we do a lot of the curriculum implementation through fun and games. So it really also helps motivate them and really sharpen their mindset. So it's a full on experience. And so that's what our curriculum is, and a transformative one at that we hope!"
— Simi Adeagbo
The foundation has helped hundreds of girls across the United States, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, and South Africa. With a vision to reach a million girls in the next decade, Simi is passionate about expanding the program's reach and impact.
SimiSleigh’s Foundation Eyes Global Impact
Simi lights up when she’s describing the things the SimiSleighs Foundation has already accomplished. But the thing she’s most excited for is the future growth and expanding her organization’s impact to even more countries and helping SimiSleighs Foundation and the organization's partners reach 1 million girls in the next 10 years.
"There's so many girls that are still out there that we want to reach! In fact, we're on a path to implementing this program to a million girls in the next 10 years.
That's our big goal. And we're just at the very beginning of our journey and looking forward to that millionth girl that we reach."
— Simi Adeagbo
When asked about memorable moments, Simi reflects on the profound hunger for positive experiences and role models among the girls they work with. The foundation's programs have provided a nurturing environment where these young women can grow in confidence and leadership. Simi is consistently moved by the girls' eagerness to engage, despite the numerous distractions typical of teenage life.
"What has impressed me most is how much the girls seem to take in this experience. And also too, it highlighted to me the need for real present role models in their lives.
I think a lot of them have that in maybe their everyday life with family members or teachers, but being able to interact and be supported by people that maybe they aspire to be like or people that they think they would never get to connect with; they really gravitate to the idea that somebody on a bigger platform can come to them and invest in them. And that for me has always been just amazing to see how they respond to just being built up and being nurtured"
— Simi Adeagbo
How to Partner with the SimiSleighs Foundation
The SimiSleighs Foundation is at the beginning of an ambitious journey to empower girls and women through sport. If you are interested in supporting their mission, there are several ways to get involved. The foundation welcomes partnerships, volunteers, and donations to help expand their programs and reach more young women worldwide.
To connect with the SimiSleighs Foundation, you can visit their website at simisleighsfoundation.org or follow them on social media. They are active on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn under the handle @SimiSleighsFoundation. As well as ‘SimiSleighsFDN’ on Twitter(X).
Want to be featured in an episode of SnoQap Spotlight? Contact Ben at ben.chimento@snoqap.com
