Choosing Haiti Over USA, Track & Field Athlete Opens Up on Troubled Past at Tokyo World Championships

Back at the Tokyo Olympics, Wadeline Venlogh reached the semi-finals of the 400 m;, clocking a time 50.51 seconds. She gave it everything she had, but despite her best efforts, she finished 4th—a shocking result. But you might know her better for her 4x400m Olympic gold after recording the fastest time for Team USA in the prelims. Fast forward to 2025, and Venlogh has once again made headlines. After proudly representing the U.S. for years, she stunned the track and field world by choosing to compete for her motherland, Haiti. Explaining her decision, she said, “I moved to the U.S. in 2009. I was 11 and a half. My mom was already living here. She had two kids here with one on the way, but there were four of us left in Haiti. I was living with my grandmother and grandfather. In 2009, we all came to the U.S. together.” Donning the Haitian flag at the World Championships was a moment of pride, but despite her grit, the outcome left her disappointed.

At the 2025 World Championships, Wadeline Venlogh lit up the track with a fiery start, storming through the 400m heats in 49.91 seconds, a bold statement to her rivals. With that kind of form, a medal seemed well within her grasp. But when the semifinals arrived, the fire dimmed. She finished in 50.67 seconds, placing 15th and falling short of the final. A bitter disappointment, no doubt, yet her blistering performance in the heats reminded everyone that Venlogh is a force to be reckoned with, even in defeat.

In a candid media chat, the former American athlete bared the darkest chapter of her journey. After Wadeline Venlogh took time off to have her son, she had no desire to return to the sport, choosing instead to focus on her family and embracing life away from the track (including becoming a Young Adult Fantasy author). Yet, against all odds, she reignited her passion and staged a comeback entirely on her own terms, after training again out of boredom during her time away. “I’m back, not by my own accord. So while I’m back, I might as well make the best of it.”

Though she may not have wanted to return, Wadeline Venlogh also stated that she was now in a “happy place.” She added, “I just—sorry to say this—but I just really got to hate the sport, and I didn’t want to be doing something that I hate. I wasn’t happy doing it, and I think taking some time off, having my family back together with me, and the necessary support that I needed, has put me in a very happy place. Now I feel like I can actually just focus on running, and after all, it’s not so bad.”

Things weren’t exactly smooth sailing for her in the U.S., but at least they were manageable. With her bold decision, she joined the rare league of athletes who dared to switch allegiance from America. Well, even though Wadeline Venlogh has changed her allegiance, she has certainly received enough support from her family, and especially her husband, to continue her dream as a sprinter. So, who is he? Let’s find out.

Meet Tega Peter Odele, Wadeline Venlogh’s partener

Just like Wadeline Venlogh, Peter Odele is also an athlete; he burst onto Nigeria’s sprinting scene as a fearless 200m specialist. He was known to blend raw speed with a tall, commanding stride. In his early days, he made a mark for himself at the Nigerian National Sports Festival, becoming a national champion in 2015.

Odele’s rise was fast and electric. His performances earned him a spot on the 2016 Rio Olympics team. Although he never received a medal at that event, it certainly made him a big name back in his country.

For now, the athlete may have stepped away from active competition, but he hasn’t missed a beat in showing support for his wife. Even at the Tokyo World Championships, he was right there in the stands with their son, cheering her on with pride. Odele and their son are both in Tokyo to cheer his wife, watching her in action for the first time since she switched countries.

Interestingly, Wadeline Venlogh has deeply rooted herself in the Nigerian culture as she has already embraced the finest Nigerian delicacies, with Poundo (a boiled and pounded yam dish) and Ogbono Soup (a soup made with ogbono seeds and assorted meats) topping her list of favorites. While both Tega and Wadeline come from track and field backgrounds, she envisions a different path for their son, either football or basketball; sports she believes will shape his versatility.