Nigeria’s high 5 potential medal winners are ladies

With a storied Olympic historical past that started in 1952 in Helsinki, Workforce Nigeria has a modest medal tally.

For the 2024 Olympics, Nigeria is sending a robust contingent of 87 athletes to Paris, aiming to enhance their 74th-place end on the Tokyo 2021 Video games.

Notably, Workforce Nigeria, comprising 87 athletes, is about 72% ladies, and they’re the nation’s finest hope for medals. Apparently, Chioma Ajunwa, a lady lengthy jumper, received Nigeria’s first-ever gold medal on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Video games.

Nigeria’s ladies will compete in athletics, soccer, basketball, wrestling, boxing, biking, canoeing, desk tennis, weightlifting, and aquatics. This consists of 18 footballers and 12 basketball gamers. Remarkably, in addition they dominate in wrestling (5 of 6) and weightlifting, the place each qualifiers are ladies.

Traditionally, Nigeria’s finest Olympic efficiency was thirtieth place on the 1984 Los Angeles Video games, the place they received one silver and one bronze.

In 17 Olympic appearances, Nigeria has received three gold medals, with 777 athletes collaborating since 1952. Because the Paris 2024 Video games method, a number of Nigerian athletes stand out as sturdy medal contenders. Listed here are 5 athletes and groups with the potential to make historical past and lift Nigeria’s flag on the rostrum.

Athletics

Tobi Amusan [27]: The 100m ladies’s hurdles world document holder is a favorite for gold after narrowly lacking the rostrum in Tokyo. Just lately cleared by the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to compete in Paris, Amusan is Nigeria’s first and solely world champion in athletics. Her world document stands at 12.12 seconds.

Amusan is Nigeria’s first and solely world champion in athletics after breaking the world document and working into the historical past books. She has at all times been one to stay up for, and the efficiency of her phrases on X continues to ring true. “Unknown now, however quickly I can be unforgettable… I’ll persist till I succeed…” All people is aware of you now, and nobody can be stunned once you take gold in Paris.

She has a robust likelihood for a podium end, given her season’s better of 12.40 seconds and her clean rhythm in scaling the hurdles. Nonetheless, she should keep away from dangerous or false begins, as witnessed on the Suzhou Diamond League.

Season’s Greatest: 12.40 seconds

Private Greatest: 12.12 seconds [World record set in 2022 in Hayward Field, Eugene, USA]

World Rating: 5

Probably Podium End: Robust YES!

Ese Brume [28]: The reigning African and Commonwealth Video games champion within the lengthy leap. Brume goals to surpass her bronze medal from Tokyo. She has constantly received medals at main competitions since her breakout in 2013. Brume’s private finest is 7.17m, and her world rating is 4.

The 2013 African Junior Championships was her leaping board, and he or she has excelled on the African Championships, African Video games, Commonwealth Video games, World Indoor Championships, and World Championships. Brume’s bronze medal in 2020 was Nigeria’s sole medal in athletics on the Olympic Video games and marked the nation’s first medal in athletics since 2008.

She is understood for her perseverance, typically delivering her finest jumps within the final makes an attempt.

Season’s Greatest: 6.84m

Private Greatest: 7.17m [Set in 2021 in Chula Vista, California, USA]

World Rating: 4

Probably Podium End: Robust YES!

Wrestling

Blessing Oborududu [35]: A dominant pressure in African wrestling and a 2020 Tokyo silver medalist, Oborududu seeks one other Olympic podium end within the 68kg class. She not too long ago secured a first-place end on the 2024 Seniors African and Oceania OG Qualifier, making her a robust contender for a medal in Paris.

Season’s Greatest: First place on the 2024 Seniors African and Oceania OG Qualifier

Private Greatest: Silver medal on the 2020 Olympic Video games

World Rating: 6

Probably Podium End: Robust YES!

Odunayo Adekuoroye [31]: A a number of medal winner on the World African Championships and Commonwealth Video games, Adekuoroye is raring for her first Olympic medal. After overcoming the frustration of the 2020 Video games, she received gold on the Poland Open Rating Collection. Ranked No. 2 on the planet within the 57kg class. Her power lies in her fastidiousness and power, although she wants to keep up focus all through her matches.

Season’s Greatest: Gold on the Poland Open Rating Collection

Private Greatest: Ranked No. 1 on the planet within the 57kg class in March 2024

World Rating: 2

Probably Podium End: Robust YES!

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Weightlifting

Rafiatu Lawal [27]: A rising star in weightlifting, Lawal has received a number of gold medals on the African Championships and Commonwealth Video games. She set new data within the Snatch (90 kg), Clear & Jerk (116 kg), and Whole (206 kg) on the 2022 Commonwealth Video games. With a private better of 227kg, she is a robust contender for a medal in Paris, notably if she improves her Clear & Jerk technique.

Season’s Greatest: 227kg

Private Greatest: 227kg [Attained in Phuket in March 2024]

World Rating: 9

Probably Podium End: Common YES!

Whereas the trail to Olympic glory is unpredictable, these Nigerian ladies have the expertise and potential to carry residence medals from Paris. The nation eagerly awaits their performances and celebrates their dedication and exhausting work.