Record-chasing Brume, Amusan headline list of 7 Nigeria’s track and field athletes returning to the Olympic Games stage
Record chasing long jumper and reigning African Games and African Athletics Championships champion, Ese Brume and world 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan headline the list of seven track and field athletes who will be making either their second or third return to the Olympics arena in Paris, France among the 35 athletes selected by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for the quadrennial event.
Brume is seeking to become the first Nigerian track and field athlete to win medals in the same individual event in the history of the Games and the 28 year old is making her third trip to the event in Paris, France.
The African record holder at 7.17m flew all the way to the final in her debut in 2016, finishing fifth and made it to the podium four years later to complete a ‘grand slam’ of wins by Nigerian long jumpers in the event with her bronze medal win after Chioma Ajunwa and Blessing Okagbare won gold and silver respectively in 1996 and 2008.
Also returning for the third time with the sole aim of making history as the first Nigerian to be crowned Olympic and World champion is Tobi Amusan.
The 27 year old made history two years ago as the first Nigerian, man or woman, to be crowned a world outdoor champion. She also sped to a 12.12 world record in the event.
Amusan did not get past the semifinal in her debut in 2016 in Brazil but made it to the final five years later in Tokyo, Japan, finishing fourth after running 12.60.
Another athlete returning for the third time is quarter miler, Omolara Ogunmakinju. The 30 year old made her debut in 2012 in London, exiting in the semifinal after running 51.41 to place third in her semifinal heat.
Then known as Omolara Omotosho, the mother of one did not go beyond the first round in the event four years later in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She will be competing in the mixed relays this time in the event her heroics earned Nigeria the gold medal at the African Games in Accra, Ghana in March.
Like Ogunmakinju, Patience Okon George ran all the way to the semifinal in her debut in 2016 but crashed out in the opening round of the 400m event five years later in Tokyo. She will also be running in the mixed relays in Paris in what will also be her third Olympics.
For the men, Ifeanyi Ojeli will be making a second straight return to the Games after his debut three years ago in Tokyo.
The 25 year old ran the opening leg for the mixed relay team that did not go past the first round heat despite setting a then 3:13.60 African record.
Also staging a return is sprinter, Ushoritse Itshekiri who also made his debut three years ago.
The 26 year old ran all the way to the semifinals before exiting but will not have the opportunity of running in the blue ribband event this time around as he has been confirmed to run only in the 4x100m relays despite placing third at the Nigerian Trials and securing the mandatory qualifying points to be eligible.
Also returning to the biggest stage in world sports is shot putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi whose main aim will be to make history as the first Nigerian man t bo make the podium in a field event at the Games.
The 31 year old made the final on his debut in Tokyo three years ago but finished last (12th) in the final classification.
