# Ene Franca Idoko

Ene Francisca “Franca” Idoko-Isaac (born 15 June 1985, in Benue State) is a Nigerian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres.

## Quotes

* My Mother is Still My Driving Force.
** Damilare Aiki, “My Mother is Still My Driving Force” 27 Year Old Nigerian Sprinter, Franca Ene Idoko Shares her Inspiring Story, Bella Naija, 29 November 2012.
* I missed being at the World Championships and my city would have loved to see me run since I'm based in Germany. They missed me too in the relay team because our team did poorly in Berlin. I'm not saying I'm the best in Nigeria but if I was there and some of us that ran in the Olympics were there, we might have made an impact.
** Opeyemi Olus, Franca is back after maternity break, with Doha a possibility, Athletics Africa, 17 February 2010.
* I used to watch every competition on Skysports to see the times athletes are running and to see if the times aren't above what I can run. They ran well last year but nobody really ran fast among the Nigerian women, unlike in 2008 when I was running. That year Damola ran 11.08 seconds which was really very fast but the fastest last year was 11.16 seconds. It was good but what they were running in Europe, America and Jamaica was faster; they were giving us time to follow because Carmelita Jeter of the US ran 10.6 which was very fast. The Africans didn't do so well but at least we are following up.
** Opeyemi Olus, Franca is back after maternity break, with Doha a possibility, Athletics Africa, 17 February 2010.
* I don't know how it all happened but I was very disappointed and it's coming from athletes you never expected to do drugs. I feel for them but I know one or two things would have led them to do it. Sometimes it's not the athletes' fault but I'm not encouraging drugs. If they do it and they know it, then they should face the consequences. It's just a pity; a sprinter (Gloria Kemasuode) too is affected and she's good. We are all going to miss her. I really feel bad for them because I don't think they are under pressure.
** Opeyemi Olus, Franca is back after maternity break, with Doha a possibility, Athletics Africa, 17 February 2010.
* If you leave athletics, it leaves you. I was getting lazy because this is the build up period from September to December but so far so good, everything has been so good. I have a coach in Germany by the name of Frank Duka that prepares a programme for me. We have a coach in Nigeria that we use whenever we are around too.
** Opeyemi Olus, Franca is back after maternity break, with Doha a possibility, Athletics Africa, 17 February 2010.
* It's not so easy because it's just like when you are in school trying to read and pass your exams without lagging behind. Every year new people come out in athletics so I just have to train hard and see who comes out this year. I ran well in 2008 and I hope to do the same this year (2010). I know it's not going to be easy but I have to come back to it, to tell myself I can do it.
** Opeyemi Olus, Franca is back after maternity break, with Doha a possibility, Athletics Africa, 17 February 2010.
* Our administrators are killing the sport. We have to understand that you cannot reap from where you did not sow. I’m sorry to say this, we believe too much in fire-brigade approach. Sports is dying in Nigeria because our administrators are not doing what they are supposed to do. It was on during our time but it was better. It is that bad now.
** AdminTO, Athletics is dead in Nigeria —Franca Idoko, Nigerian Tribune, 23 August 2016.
* It is a great feeling, having a bronze medal before and now silver, I hope they will soon award the silver medals to us. Even when we came back with the bronze in 2008, we didn’t even get a handshake or a congratulatory message but thank God today that I can now be addressed as Olympics silver medalist. That is the joy of the whole thing but it would have been better if the silver medal had been awarded right on the podium
** AdminTO, Athletics is dead in Nigeria —Franca Idoko, Nigerian Tribune, 23 August 2016.