At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Team Nigeria has made a remarkable showing in the long jump event. Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro, and Prestina Ochonogor have all qualified for the women’s long jump final, marking the first time three Nigerian athletes will compete in this event’s final at the Olympics.
The final, scheduled for Wednesday, August 7, will see these athletes face off against nine other competitors. Brume secured her place with a leap of 6.76 meters, surpassing the automatic qualifying mark. Usoro also impressed with a jump of 6.68 meters, while Ochonogor clinched her spot with a leap of 6.65 meters. Their stellar performances promise an exciting and competitive final.
In weightlifting, the 2024 Olympics will see the start of the weightlifting events today, August 6. Team Nigeria will be represented by two female lifters: Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, competing in the 59kg class, and Joy Ọgbonne Eze, who will contend in the 71kg category. The goal is to improve upon Nigeria’s previous Olympic weightlifting achievements, which include a silver and a bronze medal from the 2000 and 2008 Games.
Ibrahim Abdul, President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), has urged the lifters to aim for gold. Abdul expressed his pride in their progress and dedication during the qualifying series, emphasizing their readiness to compete among the world’s best.
“We are happy with what we have done so far as far as this Olympic Games is concerned. We have two athletes representing us, all of them are females. They withstood the rigour and pressure in the qualifying series to reach their first Olympic Games,” Abdul said. He encouraged the athletes to be confident and assured them of the support provided, including regular doping tests while they were in training.
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