Ashley Anumba is a star. At just 25 years old, she earned 14th place in Discus, representing Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Discus is an event within Track and Field where athletes compete to throw a discus (imagine a heavy frisbee) the farthest. Her work has awarded her numerous travels, experiences, and accolades. Her discus journey was born in one place: Los Osos High School.
When Anumba attended the school in 2014, she was considered an OG scholar-athlete. She was involved in the Black Student Union (BSU), the National Honor Society (NHS), the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), the Grizzly Gazette, Track and Field, and Grizzlies for God. These extracurriculars established her community of friends and students who shared her passions.
In particular, she thanked the Grizzly Gazette, the school newspaper and Journalism class, for teaching her the structured art of goal achievement. Reflecting on the organizational skills she gained from it, Anumba said, “Having to find these little, mini goals and checklists yourself was something that I took from Journalism that helped me pursue all these other goals whether it was Track or Field or school in general.”
This discipline was translated into her schoolwork and discus, even though the latter was an unexpected pursuit for her.
Her sport of choice was soccer until she tore her ACL early in her freshman year. She then decided to pick up discus. Her coach, Coach Merkley, was extremely supportive, encouraging her to take it to unprecedented levels.
With this confidence, boosted by her loving family, friends, and track team’s support, she dedicated herself to the sport. As she improved, witnessing her journey let her see the vision Coach Merkley saw.
“I mean a coach could say all these things, but you eventually see what he was saying come true. When you’re #1, #2 in the nation that means something,” Anumba said.
Her unshakeable goal of improving at discus led her to compete in the 2024 Olympics, even with so many new factors. She took a gap year at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she is currently studying. She traveled to India to stay with her coach during her first year in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), playing at a collegiate level.
Anumba is Nigerian-American and travels back and forth for vacation and visiting family. Her dual citizenship and outstanding scores secured her a place in the Paris Olympics for Nigeria.
After the Olympics finished there was little turnaround time before she had to fly to Paris to study abroad. This year is her last at the University of Virginia Law before she graduates in 2025 and becomes a lawyer, focusing on Health and Sports Law.
Although school leaves little time for social activities, she remains dedicated to reaching her goals. Anumba said, “It [is] a lot of sacrifice, but not in vain.”
Her relationship with God motivates her.
Reassured and strengthened by her faith, she earned 14th place at the Olympics, a tough, worldwide competition. She contended alongside professionals she had studied for years. Anumba recognized her remarkable path and said, “It’s not normal for a rookie to have a decent season especially when you’re away from home, so I credit God and my faith for all of this because it doesn’t even make sense to me.”
This Osos Olympian reminds us to stay close to our passions and supportive friends and family because we are unaware of where they can take us.