PUNCH
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, several athletes of Nigerian descent made significant contributions while representing other nations.
These athletes, though born or connected to Nigeria, chose to compete under the flags of countries such as Germany, Bahrain, the United States, France, Great Britain and Spain.
Their performances not only earned them individual glory but also highlighted the diverse and global nature of talent originating from Nigeria.
From winning gold in shot put to securing silver in the 400m and hammer throw, and men’s football these athletes demonstrated exceptional skill and determination on the world stage, continuing the legacy of Nigerian excellence in international sports.
Nigeria went ‘medal-less’
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s contingent left the tournament without securing a single medal, marking it one of the country’s most disappointing Olympic outings in recent times.
Despite having a strong roster of athletes, the closest Nigeria came to winning a medal was in athletics, where a few athletes made it to the finals but failed to finish on the podium.
This result contrasts sharply with Nigeria’s best Olympic performance, which occurred at the Atlanta 1996 Games, where the nation won six medals, including gold in men’s football and women’s long jump.
On the other hand, the 2024 outing could be considered among Nigeria’s worst, paralleling the 2012 London Olympics, where the country also failed to win any medals, underscoring the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s sports development and international competition performance
The Paris 2024 Olympics concluded on August 11, 2024, with the United States leading the medal table with 126 medals (40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze). China followed closely with 91 medals, and Japan rounded out the top three with 45 medals.
Notably, the host nation, France, finished fifth with 64 medals. Other standout nations included Australia, Great Britain, and the Netherlands, all of which placed in the top ten.
N9bn budget
Sports development minister, Senator John Owan-Enoh, said that President Bola Tinubu approved over N12bn for Team Nigeria’s preparation and participation at the forthcoming 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, France. This comes with N9bn for Olympics and N3bn for Paralympics.
Here’s an overview of eight athletes of Nigerian descent who won medals representing other nations at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
- Yemisi Ogunleye (Germany):
Event: Women’s Shot Put
Medal: Gold
Yemisi Ogunleye, born in Germany to a Nigerian father, made history by winning the gold medal in the women’s shot put at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This victory marked Germany’s first gold in the event since 1996.
- Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain):
Event: Women’s 400m
Medal: Silver
Salwa Eid Naser, originally born as Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu in Nigeria, claimed the silver medal in the 400m for Bahrain. Naser, who switched allegiance to Bahrain in 2014, continues to be a dominant force in track and field, adding to her collection of international medals.
