The Tokyo Olympics has had its fair share of drama on and off the sport’s arena. Team Nigeria is no exception but in the middle of all those distractions, Nigeria made very important progress at the games.
Here are eight amazing facts about Nigeria’s performances at the Tokyo Olympics.
- Nigeria got a bronze medal in long jump, 25 years after Chioma Ajunwa won gold in Atlanta 1996.
- Nigeria won a silver medal for wrestling, first Olympic medal ever in the history of the sport.
- 21-year-old Enoch Adegoke became only the third Nigeria to get to the Finals of the 100 Meters Men event.
- Nigeria bagged 2 medals, a silver and a bronze, placing her 68 out of the 205 countries at the Tokyo Olympics and 4th in Africa.
- Nigerian Olympians made a record 5 finals at the Tokyo Olympics.
- Nigerian Olympians set several new personal best PBs records in Athletics
7. Nigeria reached the final of shot put for the first time in her history.
- Nigeria performed better at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when compared with London 2012 Olympics with zero medal and the Rio 2016 Olympics with one bronze medal.
There is much to hope for the future. As the Minister for Youth and Sports said, “Most of our athletes are young and debutants – experiencing Olympics for the first time. They remain committed patriots who gave their all and I have nothing but pride for their tenacity and commitment to deliver smiles to the faces on Nigerians. We have started building a new generation of Young Nigerian athletes. There is much hope.” #Olympics2020
Other giant strides include:
Team Nigeria:
WON TWO OLYMPIC MEDALS
-Silver Medal in Wrestling by Blessing Oborududu.
-Bronze Medal in Long Jump by Ese Brume.
PRODUCED 5 OLYMPICS FINALISTS
1.Enoch Adegoke – 100 meters men
- Ese Brume- Wome. Long jump
- Tobi Amusan- 100meters women hurdles
- Blessing Oborodudu-67kg free style women wrestling
- Chukwuebuka Enekwechi- shot put.
A record achievement.
ATHLETICS
Enoch Adegoke becomes Nigeria’s first 100m Olympic finalist since 1996 clocking 10.00s in heat 2 of men’s 100m semis! 25 years after Davidson Ezinwa at Atlanta ’96
Tokyo2020: Enoch Adegoke has beaten powerful prowess like Asian record holder, Femi Ogunode, British star, Zharnel Hughes and 2021 World leader Travon Brommel to win his100m heat in a huge Personal best of 9.98s, which makes him 10th joint fastest Nigerian in history.
WRESTLING-
Blessing Oborududu broke the jinx in the wrestling family with an Olympic Silver medal to show for it.
LONG JUMP
ESE BRUME.- Silver medalist. Long jump
I’m her own words!
“I’m super excited that I made it to the top three at the Olympics. Honestly, I can’t contend with my joy.
“This medal means a lot to me. It doesn’t matter the color”,
CANOEING : Ayomide Bello
Quite decent representation from Nigeria’s Ayomide Bello, who is for a fact the first African female to compete in Canoe Sprint at the Olympics.
Her #Tokyo2020 campaign has come to an end as she finishes 3rd in the quarter-finals of the C-1 200m with 47.326s.
SWIMMING: Abiola Ogunbanwo, new national record in Swimming. A first since 2000 Sydney Olympics.