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Paris 2024 has been a good outing for Nigeria athletics in a number of ways. Here are the top 10 best-performing athletes so far that have made this happen at the ongoing Olympics
A number of Nigerian athletes have produced impressive performances since the start of track and field at Paris 2024 Olympics, with Favour Ofili, Samuel Ogazi, and Tobi Amusan taking leading positions on the list.
With athletics now on Day 7 and three more days to go, here are the best-performing athletes at the Olympics so far, with the ranking based on their finishing positions and record-breaking performances in their individual events.
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14:55 - 06.08.2024
'I never enjoyed running the 400m' - South African speedster reveals eight years after setting World and Olympic Record
Wayde van Niekerk broke into athletics limelight in 2016 when he ran a jaw-dropping new 400m World Record in 43.03s. Ironically, eight years after his historic feat, he says he never enjoyed running the event and want to find love in the sport again.
10 - Kanyinsola Ajayi
Making his Olympic debut, Ajayi showed no fear in his 100m heats, as he defeated Tokyo 2021 gold medallist in 10.02s to make the semifinals, where he bowed out after being placed against a stacked field that eventually produced the Olympic champion, Noah Lyles.
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14:50 - 03.08.2024
Paris 2024: Kanyinsola Ajayi's excellence over Olympic champion echoes his talent as Nigeria's next BIG track star
Kanyinsola Ajayi's fearless victory against defending Olympic champion in the 100m heats in Paris, is a testament to his talent as Nigeria's next big speed star and one to bank on in futture.
8 - Ezekiel Nathaniel
As Nigeria's sole representative in the men's 400mH event, the National Record (NR) holder booked his spot in the semifinals after a second place finish in his heat race in a time of 48.32s to secure an automatic spot.
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His semifinal berth sealed his name as the first Nigerian athlete in 12 years to achieve such feat in the event at the Olympics. Also, the time is his fourth-fastest career mark and he'll be gunning to lower this in other to be assured of a spot in the final.
9 - Ella Onojuvwevwo
The 19-year-old played a vital role in the mixed 4x400m quartet comprising Samuel Ogazi, Onojuvwevwo, Emmanuel Ojeli, and Patience George clocking a new National Record (NR) of 3:11.99 to finish fourth in their heat race and ninth overall, which sadly, was one spot away from the final.
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She'll later return for the 400m heats, where she failed to meet her target of finishing in the top 3. However, she brushed off the disappointment with a win in her repechage heat in 50.59s to make the semifinals. By doing this, Onojuvwevwo also qualified for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships.
8 - Prestina Ochonogor
Another teenager on the list, the long jump sensation showed no fear when she competed in the qualifying rounds, as her best mark 6.65m was good enough to book a spot in the final.
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Despite not being a top contender for a medal, Ochonogor's consistency this season has shown she's one for the big occasions and cannot be written off to cause an upset against the world's best jumpers.
7 - Ruth Usoro
From the disappointment of Tokyo 2021 Olympics , where she was among the ten disqualified athletes and couldn't compete, Usoro made sure her Paris outing would be memorable by securing her spot in the women's long jump final.
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The talented jumper leaped a distance of 6.68m, which advanced her amongst the top 12 best jumpers.
6 - Ese Brume
As the leader of the talented set of Nigerian long jumpers, Brume saved her best jump for the last to surpass the automatic qualifying standard of 6.75m with an impressive 6.76m.
Her guaranteed spot to qualify was an historic feat as it meant for the first time ever, three Nigerian women will compete in an Olympic long jump final.
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12:38 - 06.08.2024
Paris 2024 Olympics: Unprecedented milestone for Ese Brume leading three Nigerian jumpers into Olympic final
Nigerian trio of Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro, and Prestina Ochonogor will compete in the women's long jump final, a historic feat in Olympic history.
5 - Tobi Amusan
Never in doubt, Amusan began her Paris Olympic campaign with a convincing win in her heat, clocking an effortless 12.49s to qualify for the women's 100mH semifinals.
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Having made the final in Tokyo with an agonizing fourth place finish, the World Record (WR) holder will be aiming for a medal this time around and perhaps the ultimate prize of becoming the Olympic champion.
3 - Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
'Big Chuks' delivered again by being the first Nigerian athlete to reach Paris 2024 Olympics final after his brilliant throw of 21.14s in his Shot Put qualifying round.
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Enekwechi improved on this mark again in the final with a monstrous throw of 21.42m - his best career finish at a major championship.
2 - Samuel Ogazi
In his debut Olympics outing, Samuel Ogazi has ensured Nigeria is well represented after qualifying for the men's 400m final, Nigeria's first in 36 years since the legendary Innocent Egbunike.
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The 18-year-old ran the race of his life against a stacked semifinal heat, blazing to a new Personal Best (PB) of 44.41s to finish third and seal his spot in the final. By doing this, he becomes the first Nigerian 400m runner to reach an Olympic final since Egbunike attained the same feat at Seoul 1988.
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19:44 - 06.08.2024
Paris 2024: Samuel Ogazi makes Nigeria's first 400m Olympic final in 36 years, matches the legendary Innocent Eggbunike's record
When the legendary Innocent Egbunike competed at Seoul 1988, Samuel Ogazi wasn't born. The teenager has now become Nigeria's first 400m Olympic finalist in 36 years.
1 - Favour Ofili
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23:59 - 07.08.2024
Favour Ofili Net Worth: Age, Height, Olympics, Medals, Accomplishments, Personal Bests, How Rich is she in 2024?
Everything you need to know about Nigeria’s rising track star Favour Ofili, including her Age, Height, Olympic Games record, Medals, Accomplishments, Personal Bests and How Rich she is in 2024.
From mentally dealing with the disappointment of not being entered for the women's 100m event, Ofili ensured she gave everything in the 200m event by making the final - Nigeria's first in 28 years.
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After conveniently winning her heat, she came back in the semis running alongside newly crowned Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, who won the race in 21.97s to the Nigerian speedster's SB of 22.05s.
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02:25 - 07.08.2024
‘I gave it my all’ - Favour Ofili claims she did her best after coming 6th in women’s 200m final
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has opened up following her loss in the women’s 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
With high expectations and pressure in the final, Ofili narrowly missed out on a podium placement with a sixth place finish in 22.24s, slightly behind bronze medallist Brittany Brown in 22.20s. Although she didn't get a medal, the 21-year-old did exceptionally in her first Olympic appearance and made history with it.
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