From college sports to writing a book: Meet the powerhouse athlete balancing athletics and academics

August 19, 2026 - 20:16

Osawese Agbonkonkon is not your typical college athlete. While most students in elite sports programs focus entirely on practice, film sessions, and recovery, Agbonkonkon has added a completely different kind of challenge to the mix: writing a full-length science fiction novel. The result is a balancing act that would exhaust most people, but for her, it is just another way to push limits.

Agbonkonkon competes for one of the strongest programs in college sports, a level where the demands are relentless. Early mornings, heavy training loads, travel, and academic commitments leave little room for anything else. Yet she found herself drawn to storytelling, spending late nights building worlds and characters instead of scrolling through social media. The idea for the novel came during a long bus ride to an away game, and she has been writing ever since.

What makes her approach stand out is how she treats writing like training. She sets small goals, stays consistent, and refuses to let a bad chapter discourage her. She says the discipline from athletics carries directly into her creative work. If she can push through a tough practice, she can push through a difficult plot twist.

Her teammates know about the book, and some have even asked for early chapters. Coaches have been supportive too, recognizing that a well-rounded mind helps on the court or field. Agbonkonkon does not see the two pursuits as competing for her energy. Instead, she sees them as feeding each other. Sports give her structure and focus. Writing gives her an outlet for imagination and stress relief.

She hopes to finish the manuscript by the end of the season, but she is not rushing it. For her, the process matters as much as the result. Whether she ends up as a professional athlete, a published author, or both, she has already proven that you do not have to choose one passion over another. You can just bring the same intensity to everything you love.