University of Texas athlete Osawese Agbonkonkon pursues high jumping and has published a science fiction novel, using his precision skills in both fields.
HOUSTON — In track and field, the high jump is all about speed, timing, and technique — something University of Texas rising junior Osawese Agbonkonkon knows well.
“You run the curve properly and hit a very stiff takeoff,” Agbonkonkon said. “Finding whatever time I can to write. I love to do it.
The Texas native was always an athlete, participating in swimming, ice skating and soccer. But it wasn’t until a 5th-grade writing prompt piqued his interest and opened the door to a new passion.
“I like the idea of just, you know, opening up a page and starting to create something that’s completely my own,” he said.
He didn’t begin high jumping until his junior year of high school. But once he did, the same focus he brought to writing helped him excel.
“You have to bring a lot of speed into the jump, and then hit the takeoff very stiff,” he said. “The idea is you want to use rotational speed to propel yourself over the bar.”
That precision and attention to detail carried into his creative life as well.
“Just the idea of wanting to have things planned out, wanted to make sure that I know all the steps I need to take,” Agbonkonkon said.
Around 2015, Agbonkonkon began developing the concept for his novel, Psychic Suit, a science fiction story that explores the narrative of power and mental health.
“One of my childhood best friends, who lived in my neighborhood, we’d routinely go out to the trampoline in my backyard and, you know, we’d kind of just act out our own versions of like stories and, and it hit me one day, maybe I could write down some of these,” he recalled.
Not only did Agbonkonkon write Psychic Suit, he published it himself — a major feat for a full-time student and athlete. Putting his story out into the world, he said, wasn’t unlike stepping onto the track.
“It’s kind of like blocking out the outside noise and understanding that if you believe in what you’re doing, that’s good enough,” he said.
Agbonkonkon already has sequels in mind and hopes to expand the Psychic Suit universe and break into film and television.
At the same time, he’s focused on taking his jumping career to the next level.
“Going pro is definitely one of my big goals,” he said.
But if his journey proves anything, it’s that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of choosing just one path.