Childhood beginnings with sports

It’s a toss-up between siblings Nat Ogbeta and Naomi Metzger who has won the most sporting bling.

Nat was the boy in the early days progressing from Barr Hill Juniors in Salford through to Manchester City Academy and England age group teams.

He’s now helping Bolton Wanderers towards promotion to the Skybet Championship.

By her own admission, Naomi “wasn’t super sporty” in her early teens. But “big sis” transitioned from budding sprinter to one of Great Britain’s best female triple jumpers.

A 12-time National champion, including five at senior level, the Loughborough-based field star has competed at World and European Championships.

She also hopped, skipped, and jumped to a Commonwealth Games bronze medal at Birmingham in 2022.

She sits third in the British all-time rankings behind Ashia Hansen and Cuban-born Yamile Aldama.

After missing out on Tokyo 2020, Naomi, 25, now has her sights set on the Olympics in Paris in what could be a memorable family sporting double in 2024. 

“Athletics is too scary for me,” smiles Ogbeta who celebrates his 23rd birthday on April 28. “It is isolated so how Naomi deals with the pressure and expectation is special.

“I am used to team sport so whenever everything is just on you it is a bit daunting. She just loves the spotlight.”

Destined for football from a young age

Ogbeta trialed at Manchester United, Liverpool, and Everton before signing for City at the age of 10. 

He stayed for nine years, captaining a series of junior Blues’ age group sides. At the Under 18 level his teammates included: Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, and Jeremie Frimpong.

For England, he wore the Three Lions alongside Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka. 

His own career hasn’t followed the same elevated path, opting to leave City for Shrewsbury Town—then under Steve Cotterill’s stewardship—moving onto second-tier Swansea—then managed by Russell Martin—and during the January transfer window on loan to ambitious Bolton.

But for club and country, he still harbours hope of breaking into the big time.

“I feel like the next two or three years are going to be crucial to see where I end up as a player,” said the personable Trotters’ recruit.

“In that time, I want to get as close to the Premier League as possible. With the right chance and God’s grace, I am still young and there are not that many attacking left-backs/left-wing backs around. So, there is a market.

“Seeing how many young players I have played with who are now playing for England is inspiring. Obviously, the calibre is so high.

“But I believe in myself and I would love to play for England,” added Ogbeta who also qualifies for Jamaica and Nigeria.

“However, as more tournaments happen and the older you get, if there are opportunities to go to the African Cup of Nations or Gold Cup or World Cup with one of these teams, it is an opportunity you can’t really pass up. We will see what happens.”

For now, all his focus is on helping Wanderers into the second tier for the first time in five years. And supporting Naomi to fulfill her own sporting goal in the French capital.

“Naomi has all the physical capabilities to do that and she is super motivated,” he confirmed.

Eyes on the Olympics despite a setback

Metzger, who married fellow athlete Kevin Metzger in 2021, is on the road to recovery after surgery to repair a torn quad muscle; ironically the same injury suffered by Nat while on loan at Peterborough last year.

A training partner of double World heptathlon champion, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Metzger, who represents Trafford Athletics Club, has a lifetime best of 14.37 metres.

She needs to finish in the top two and achieve the Olympic qualifying A standard of 14.52m before or at the British Trials in Birmingham on June 29 and 30.

“I ended 2022 on an upward trajectory, I had sorted out my run-up, which meant I was able to get over the 14.30s quite easily,” she explained.