Reïna-Flor Okori
Reïna-Flor Okori
Reina-Flor Okori Makendengue is an Equatoguinean former track and field athlete who specialised in the 100 metres hurdles. She is a four-time Olympian with over 20 years on the track representing France and Equatorial Guinea. In 2015, she took allegiance back to Equatorial Guinea, represented her country for the 2016 Olympic Games, and became a flag bearer.
"I quickly understood that I could fail at both what I love and don’t love. By extrapolating lessons learned in my 100m hurdles, I learned to pinpoint the hurdles outside of my sport. When challenged to seek alignment, I could express unlimited performance, enthusiasm, passion and joy. Thus, I see many of my failures as an expression of resilience, trained consciously or subconsciously."
"My greatest lesson learned as an Olympian is the understanding that I am human, and the world is mine. As a part of this ecosystem, I discovered that through practice, I can unlock my power. I came into this body to enjoy everything that I desire, not to struggle. Just like sports, my body is a vehicle to find answers, and feel exhilaration to be who I am. Olympians come from all over the world, some are rich, some poor. It is a stage that helps you understand how to focus to make big moves in your life. I have participated several times in the same event (Olympics), yet will still focus on the different aspects to improve each time."
