Columbia University’s 2026 Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on October 22 at Cipriani 25 Broadway in Manhattan. Among the honorees is former Lions triple jumper Nadia Eke, a 2015 Columbia graduate.
Now a sports business strategist based in the Washington, D.C., area, Eke channels her pursuit of excellence into being at the forefront of investment in sports. The induction is a milestone for the two-time Ivy League champion and school record holder in the triple jump.
“When I was 18 years old and I decided I was going to go to Columbia, there were a lot of questions why,” recalled Eke, who moved to the U.S. from Ghana as a teenager. “Coming out of high school … I had a lot of offers, but I knew that going to Columbia was symbolic … because I really believed that if I could become successful as an athlete and a student at Columbia, then I could accomplish anything.”
Nadia Eke, who had a stellar track and field career as a Columbia University student-athlete, is being inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame next month. (Credit: Courtesy of Columbia Athletics)
Eke and her mother visited New York City one weekend before an official visit to get a feel for things. She felt drawn to the energy of the city and of Columbia’s campus. When she turned down an athletic scholarship from another school, the coach told her that she was making a huge mistake. “I’m always drawn to the challenge and I love to prove people wrong,” said Eke. “I think it shaped every aspect of my life … Being a student-athlete at Columbia in New York City gave me this hunger and determination.”
Eke continued to train and compete after graduating. A fellow Columbia alum introduced her to the New York Athletic Club. Training, competing and working, Eke saw that intense period as a launchpad for her career. She competed in the 2020/21 Olympic Games in Tokyo, serving as the flag bearer for Ghana. She retired from competing soon after but retained her competitive spirit. “I continued to be that multifaceted person,” she said.
Expecting her second child, Eke probably won’t attend the October celebration, but she will continue to roar like a lion in appreciation of her strong foundation. After the Olympics, she started her own strategy consultancy working mainly with sports startups and different sports projects. Now, her focus is driving sports investment and development across the African continent. “Being a pioneer in that,” she said. “Doing what people think is impossible. Here we go with the next thing.”
