Ibadin seeking to make history with Nigeria’s first ever Olympic Games 800m semifinals ticket

Thirty-six years after Ado Maude made history as the first Nigerian to run in the 800m event at the Olympics, another Nigerian, Edose Ibadin will be making his debut in the event at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics.

Maude, the first Nigerian to break 46 seconds in the event (1:45.91), was at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea but he didn’t get past the first round.

Ibadin will now be hoping to create his own bit of history. He wants to become the first Nigerian, man or woman, to run in the semifinals of the event.

The 800m event starts on Wednesday and Ibadin has been drawn in the second of six opening round heats where he will be aiming for one of the three automatic tickets on offer.

The 31-year-old is the only Nigerian who has broken 1:45 in the event but holds a 1:45.22 personal season’s best.

A repeat of his personal season’s best may not be enough to secure him that historic spot in the semifinal but he will get another chance in the Repechage Round.