Paris 2024: Ofili Makes History, Qualifies for Women’s 200m Final

Favour Ofili created history by becoming the first Nigerian woman to qualify for the Olympic Games women’s 200m final in 28 years.

The 21-year-old, who ran a season’s best of 22.05s, finished second in her heat, just behind Julien Alfred.

This achievement marks a significant milestone in Ofili’s career and sets the stage for her final appearance where she’ll compete against the best sprinters in the world.

Despite this setback, the Delta-State-born athlete remained determined to showcase her talents on the world stage.

Ofili’s impressive performance in the 200m event has made her the first Nigerian woman to qualify for the final of this event in 28 years. The last time a Nigerian made the final of the women’s 200m was in Atlanta 1996, when Mary Onyali won a bronze medal.

In another notable performance, wrestler Blessing Oborududu also made it to the semi-finals of the women’s freestyle 68kg category. Oborududu faced a challenging start to the Games, conceding two points in the opening three minutes against Canada’s Linda Morais. However, the 35-year-old athlete staged a remarkable comeback, scoring six unanswered points in the second half of the match to secure an 8-2 victory and progress to the quarterfinals.

Oborududu’s impressive run continued in the quarterfinals, where she defeated France’s Koumba Larroque 6-2 in a fiercely contested bout. Unfortunately, Oborududu lost her semi-final fight against Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan, with a final score of 3-1. Nonetheless, Oborududu is now set to compete in the repechage mini-tournament, where she will vie for one of the two bronze medals available.

The performances of Favour Ofili and Blessing Oborududu have once again demonstrated the talent and resilience of Nigerian athletes on the global stage. As the Paris 2024 Olympics progress, all eyes will be on these extraordinary athletes as they continue to strive for glory and make their nation proud.