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Olayinka Olajide won a complete set of medals at the African Games. Here's all you need to know about Nigeria's new speed revelation.
Yearly, Nigeria has the routine of producing at least a speed talent for the world's marvel. This season, Olayinka Olajide entered the chat as the country's new speed revelation after winning a complete set of medals at the 13th African Games in Ghana.
Against all odds and racing experienced athletes, Olajide won a bronze medal in the women's 100m final in 11.55s (-1.3), thus becoming Nigeria's first medallist in the event in 13 years.
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A day after her memorable feat, she ran a brilliant second leg that played a key role in the 4x100m relay squad's lead before legendary Tobi Amusan anchored the team to the gold medal in 43.06s - just missing out on the Games Record of 43.04s.
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07:38 - 21.03.2024
African Games: Tobi Amusan's historic Gold, Okezie's triumph in 37years and Ghana losing 'relay jollof war' highlights performances on Day 3
Recap of Day 3 performances of Nigerian athletes at the African Games led by the historic performances of Tobi Amusan and Chidi Okezie.
And then she completed her set of medals with shining silver, as she blazed to a brilliant Personal Best (PB) of 23.18s (-2.6m/s) in the 200m final.
What was more impressive about the race was her jaw-dropping top-end speed of closing hard on one of the world's fastest women and a world championships finalist in the event Gina Bass-Bittaye, who won in a hard-fought 23.14s.
Olajide's meteoric rise to fame this season has been exceptional, so announcing herself with such outstanding performances in Ghana is a testament that Nigeria has found another speedster with the talent to rule the world in a few years.
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16:00 - 21.03.2024
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Summary of Olayinka Olajide's career before the African Games
Like some late bloomers, the 21-year-old only started professional training in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic after being discovered by her coach Olalekan Adebote.
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She took a break in 2022 and 2023 and only resumed active training and competition for the 2024 season late last year.
In her first race of the year at the Dynamic Athletics Outdoor Meet, Olajide announced her readiness for the season with an impressive 7.50s to win the 60m event and a 55.35s in the 400m.
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15:42 - 22.03.2024
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Follow-up races in February will see her clock a respectable PB of 11.42s to win the 100m event at the Pre-Africa Games Meet in Abuja and also lowered her 200m best to 23.60s in the heat before a massive 23.42s in the final.
With her flashes of brilliance already being noticed by Nigerian athletics faithful, she backed it up with more exceptional performances at the African Games National Trials in Asaba, blazing to a new 100m PB of 11.32s in the semis and lowering it to a Nigerian-leading 11.19s in the final.
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This, in addition to lowering her 200m PBs through the rounds from 23.31s in the heats to 23.27s in the semis and 23.24s in the final, thus made her a top candidate to make the Nigerian team and a medal contender at the African Games.
Her tremendous progression so far this season is highly admirable, and if it continues at the same rate, can see her make her Olympic debut in Paris.
![Gout Gout: [WATCH] Australian Usain Bolt's sensational 10.29s that has put the track world on notice](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/24032024/e2850757-d66a-4eda-ac2e-72d8ba376c0f.png?operations=fit(:350))
21:33 - 23.03.2024
Gout Gout: [WATCH] Australian Usain Bolt's sensational 10.29s that has put the track world on notice
Many speedsters have been dubbed the 'Next Usain Bolt'. However, Australia's Gout Gout may actually be the chosen one following his record-breaking performances at a young age.
What next for Olayinka Olajide?
When Pulse Sports had an Exclusive Interview with the young budding star and what it meant to have a memorable first international outing and win a complete set of medals at the African Games, she said:
"It means God has prepared me for a bigger stage and this is just the beginning. Just like a ladder, coming to Ghana and winning the complete set is the first step and there are more steps to take.
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"From here I will just take each step as it comes. Keep depending on God, trust my coach more, and train harder."
Olajide'e first step to world recognition was making a statement at the continental level. Her hunger and poise for more success can propel her to make the Nigerian team to the Paris Olympic Games.
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09:50 - 24.03.2024
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When this happens, her journey to becoming one of Nigeria's finest sprinters in history will only just begin.
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