OFILI DAZZLES FOR TEAM NIGERIA
Star athlete Favour Ofili has been rewriting the record books at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She took to the 200m semi-final race tracks with one purpose in mind: qualification for the finals. And she delivered superbly!
Ofili became the first Nigerian female athlete in 28 years to qualify for the final of the 200m women’s race category after finishing second in the first semi-final race last night, completing the race in 22.05 seconds. She was just 0.07 seconds behind first-placed Julien Alfred and 0.25 seconds ahead of third-placed McKenzie Long. Overall, she finished third best in the semi-final races behind Julien Alfred and Gabrielle Thomas.
She is the first Nigerian female athlete to make the 200m finals since Atlanta 1996 bronze medalist Mary Onyali. Chioma Ajunwa is the only individual Nigerian athlete to win a gold medal, doing so at Atlanta 1996.
Nigerians can only rue the failure of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) in registering her for the 100m races. Ofili, alongside Ivory Coast’s Jessika Gbai, will represent the African continent in the women’s 200m finals. All eyes will be on her tonight, and she has Nigeria united behind her.
NIGERIAN TRIO REWRITE THE RECORD BOOKS
Nigerian track and field trio Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro, and Pristina Ochonogor have shone on the biggest stage and rewritten the record books.
For the first time in history, three Nigerian women have qualified for the Olympics final in the women’s long jump category. Tokyo 2020 Olympics bronze medalist Ese Brume jumped 6.76 meters to book her spot in the finals, giving her an opportunity to secure a gold medal.
Ruth Usoro and Pristina Ochonogor jumped 6.68 meters and 6.65 meters respectively, securing two extra spots for Nigeria in the finals. Brume recorded the second-highest jump in Group A, while Usoro followed closely behind her in third place. Ochonogor recorded the third-best jump in Group B.
They’ll compete in the finals on August 8, 2024. Bonne chance!
