The 2024 Paris Olympics concluded on August 10, 2024, leaving Team Nigeria with a challenging chapter as they finished without securing any medals.
Despite the high expectations following their success at Tokyo 2020, the Nigerian team, comprising 88 athletes across 12 sports, left Paris 2024 with no medal.
Is this due to unforeseen hurdles? Lack of preparation or poor planning? Here’s a closer look at some of the athletes’ personal experiences at the Games:
Tobi Amusan
Amusan has consistently dominated the 100m hurdles event, claiming gold medals at the World Championship, Commonwealth Games, African Championship, African Games, and Diamond League.
However, an Olympic medal has remained elusive, with her closest attempt being a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I mean, God is great,” Amusan had said in an interview after the race in her heat.
“My third Olympics, and the goal is to come out here and execute each round.
I think I did a pretty decent job, and my coach is going to be mad at me as usual…not finishing through the line but I just felt like we have three rounds and I just need to know where I am taking it quite easy and see how fast I can go when I really press.” Amusan shared, highlighting her concerns after losing the game .
Blessing Oborududu
The wrestler grappled with weight management issues and unexpected changes in her schedule. “The changes in schedule and weight issues were significant challenges.
I was ready to compete, but these factors certainly affected my performance,” Oborududu said, reflecting on the difficulties that hindered her chances.
Favour Ofili
Although she qualified for the women’s 100m, Ofili was surprisingly left off the roster. “Being left out despite qualifying was a hard blow.
I felt I was robbed of my chance to contribute to the team,” Ofili expressed, voicing her frustration over the decision.
However, Ofili represented Nigeria at the women’s 200m race, finishing in 6th place.
Ese Brume
The long jumper dealt with injuries and kitting problems. “Looking back to where I’m coming from, I didn’t compete much this year because of injuries. Even up to today, I also competed with an injury, but I’m glad that I made it this far.
I’m happy with myself and thankful to God.”
“To be honest, it was an amazing experience for me,” Brume added in an interview with Making of Champions after the event.
She has vowed to bounce back even stronger after the loss.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
The shot putter who came up to the top 6 in the men’s shot put games.
“I’m proud that I was able to make that final, on the qualifying day and on the final… I know that I could have been a little bit closer, it was well within my reach, but Getting to the top 6 is an achievement for me, seeing as it has been a long year,” Enekwechi said.
Despite the challenges, a notable achievement came from Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress.
Under coach Rena Wakama, the team reached the quarterfinals, becoming the first African team to do so in Olympic basketball.
They were ultimately defeated by the USA, 88-74. The team’s performance and Wakama’s leadership were commendable, showcasing their resilience and skill.
The 2024 Olympics served as a moment of introspection for Nigerian athletes, revealing various challenges faced during the Games.
Their feedback underscores the need for continued support and improvements to address the issues affecting performance and prepare for future international competitions.
