Dynamite's taking care of business

01 October 2001

Baraledei Daniel Igali, or ‘Dynamite’ to his friends, describes what he does quite simply. Igali just “takes care of business” for a living.

In 1994 a trip to the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, to represent his birth country Nigeria at freestyle wrestling, resulted in 11th place. More poignantly for Daniel than the final rankings, he was to make Canada his new home.

The volatile political situation in Nigeria, coupled with an inability to study alongside sports in his home country, made Daniel’s decision an easy one. He was to go on to work with two of the best coaches in the world and record an amazing 116 wins no defeats record during three years at Simon Fraser University. There could now be little doubt that Canada had a new wrestling talent on her hands.

Speaking exclusively to www.commonwealthgames.com Daniel told us that wrestling has always been in his bones, “Wrestling is the life-blood of the Ijaw tribe in Nigeria,” he told us, “I just grew up doing what every other male child did. I cannot credit any one person for encouraging me to take up wrestling, but I realised I was cut out for it, when at the age of ten, I was already beating kids two years older than I was.”

So from that beginning the seeds were sown. Daniel Igali was on his way. On his way as it turns out to being world champion in 1999 and an Olympic gold medal in Sydney. Now the adopted Canadian is gunning for gold in Manchester.

The quiet, thoughtful strongman is quick to point out that he has not yet qualified for Team Canada’s Commonwealth squad. That procedure won’t take place until May 2002 but with a track-record as glittering as his, many would have him down as a certainty to take the trip.

“Participating in the Commonwealth Games is very important for me. Representing Canada at these Games will bring back many fun memories of 1994 for me.”

In order to get there though Daniel is aware that his training regime must be as strict as ever, “At the moment I train six days a week for about three to four hours a time. I don’t really have a special diet but I do eat healthily and keep my weight in check as I am involved in a sport that has weight limits.”

Having snatched the gold in Sydney all eyes will be on Igali to repeat the feat at the G-Mex and he knows preparation is vital, “Early next year I have the Takti tournament in Iran, the world championships qualifier in Venezuela and the Canadian national championships. With three healthy tournaments, I think all things considered I will be adequately prepared for the Commonwealth Games.”

As for Manchester’s reputation as a fun, friendly city, Daniel and his fellow Canadians are ready to let their hair down after the Games, “There’s been so much hype about Manchester being the party capital of England that we’ll definitely want to taste it for ourselves after taking care of business.”