Can Rosemary Chukwuma Become the First Nigerian Woman to Run in the 100m Final in 10 Years?

Rosemary Chukwuma will be hoping she can become not only the fifth Nigerian woman to run in the final of the 100m but also the first since Blessing Okagbare last did so in 2015 when she files out for her fourth appearance in World Athletics’ flagship event, the World Championships, in Tokyo, Japan.

The 23-year-old has failed to fulfil expectations since she completed a sprint double as a 16-year-old at the African Youth Games in 2018, running impressive times viz 11.53 in the 100m and 23.45 in the 200m, to win the titles.

Since that time, she has only given glimpses of what she could have been, running 10.99 in the 100m in 2022 and a world-class 10.88 in 2024, which could have earned her a lane and a bronze medal at the Olympics.

Now, she gets another chance to finally fulfil expectations and deliver on the biggest stage.

If she makes it to the final, it would be the first time a Nigerian woman has run in the final of the Championships since 2015.

If she does, she will also be the fifth Nigerian woman after Mary Onyali, Mercy Nku, Damola Osayomi, and Okagbare.

Chukwuma will either attempt to make history as the first Nigerian, man or woman, to win a medal in the 100m event at the Championships or finish with the highest placement in the final.

Onyali and Okagbare hold the record for the highest finish in the event. Onyali ran 11.05 to finish fifth in 1993, while Okagbare ran 11.12 to also finish fifth in 2011.