“I am sorry to say this but the result could reflect in our performances when the Olympics commence this week. “Nigerians should ensure they support these athletes in every way when the Games starts. “Let’s unite in support of our athletes as they embark on this remarkable journey.
- Sifan Hassan became the first athlete in 72 years to win medals in the women’s 5,000, 10, 000 and marathon races; a haul of gold and two bronze medals within the space of five days, with a total distance of 62,195 km covered.
- John Enoh, minister of sports development, has described Team Nigeria’s performance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France as a “disaster”.
- Briefly after the briefing, I asked the president of the Athletics Federation Nigeria (AFN) what our medal projections are and the basis for the projections.
- Nigeria sent 88 athletes to compete in Paris, but the contingent faced numerous challenges, including administrative lapses and poor technical decisions, which contributed to their underwhelming results.
- Here we examine the top five countries that emerged as powerhouses during these Games, highlighting their achievements, standout performances, and the factors contributing to their success.
- At the end of the games, however, and contrary to predictions, Nigeria was not among Africa’s “Top 10” finishers.
France
Respected sports journalist, Dr. Mumini Alao believes that, “Nigerian sports is grossly underfunded which is a reflection of our poor economy. Since 1968, a Kalenjin male runner has won gold for Kenya at every Olympics. Instead, Emmanuel Wanyonyi from the Bukusu sub-ethnic group of the Luhya (traditionally better known for producing football, rugby, basketball and volleyball players) emerged as the sole Kenyan men’s gold medallist. The 20-year-old won the 800 metres, maintaining the country’s stranglehold on that event ever since the 2008 games.
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Quincy Hall also came from behind, nabbing the U.S. first gold medal in the 400 meters since 2008. As the flames of the Olympic torch flickered out, the final curtain drew on the 2024 Olympics in a spectacular closing ceremony, which saw a handover to Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Leaving behind a legacy of resilience, sportsmanship, and dreams realised, the memories of these extraordinary games will continue to inspire generations. The 2024 Paris Olympics opened on the 26th of July with a magnificent ceremony that saw thousands of athletes ready to battle over two weeks for world dominance. The ensuing games had everyone on the edge of their seats, unveiling a tapestry of unforgettable victories and unexpected turns that captivated audiences worldwide. “The elections for the federations are by the corner, and it will be the perfect platform to get only those who are most eligible to lead the various sports federations.
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The United States women’s basketball team won their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal with a thrilling victory over France at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Their tight win extended the longest streak of victories in Olympic women’s basketball history. Remarkably, this accomplishment broke the previous record held by the United States men’s basketball team, which won seven consecutive gold medals from 1936 to 1968. China’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics solidified its position as a global sports superpower, tying with the United States for the most gold medals. The Chinese team secured a total of 91 medals, comprising 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze. China has achieved its best Olympic performance since the 2008 Beijing Games.
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This saw a series of online bullying and transgender accusations against Iman. The allegations were quickly debunked by the International Olympic Committee, emphasising that Iman was born a woman; the disinformation was soon traced back to Russian sources. Kipyegon claimed gold in the women’s 1500 metre race, while Béatrice Chebet took gold in the 5000 m and 10,000 m events. Nigeria presented over 80 athletes in Paris but failed to win an Olympic medal — for the first time since 2012. “The minister of sports in Nigeria has limited capacity to direct the affairs of sports and for example. I had technical sessions with the different Olympic sports that we qualified for, 12 of them and got briefings from them, which is the only way I can get involved by asking questions.
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Collectively, these athletes won four medals, a tally nearly equalling Nigeria’s best Olympic performance. In the spirit of celebrating women at the Olympics, we’re spotlighting African women’s performances at the games. There are no plans to work with schools, clubs, communities, and several initiatives that can harness thousands of young Nigerians aspiring to be athletes across different sports.
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While Team Nigeria will be returning home empty-handed from the Paris 2024 Olympics, athletes of Nigerian origin made their mark on the global stage, winning four medals for their adopted countries. It has been marked by controversies, such as Favour Ofili’s exclusion from her event, but also by highlights like the women’s basketball team reaching the quarterfinals. Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis, a Swede, did what he does best—breaking the Olympic record with a 6.10m jump to defend his gold medal and then raising the bar to 6.25m. The stadium was silent as Mondo began his run-up, then erupted in applause as he flew over the bar, creating a new world record height. Fans celebrated his accomplishment after witnessing the highest jump—and jumper—in history.
Paris 2024 Olympics medal table
- There are no plans to work with schools, clubs, communities, and several initiatives that can harness thousands of young Nigerians aspiring to be athletes across different sports.
- Not forgetting the Super Falcons who defeated arch-rivals South Africa to qualify for the female football event after 20 years.
- With the Olympics still ongoing, the medal table is bound to change, and African nations are poised to continue their impressive performances.
- Mark your calendars and get ready to watch the world’s best surfers take on one of the most challenging waves on the planet.
- These achievements serve as motivation not just for the athletes but for their countries as well, inspiring a new generation of sports enthusiasts.
- The strong showing is also a boost for China’s national pride and morale, and is expected to inspire a new generation of Chinese athletes to strive for Olympic glory.
Although clothing his actions in cautiousness, he is steady in his observations and delivery, having taught different categories of pupils that are technically gifted. Senator Enoh is careful not to misinterprete each individual’s placement but wants to manage every capability of men, including his immediate staff for optimum results. Nigeria, actually like all other nations in the Olympic family, is focusing on that global fiesta to have an emphatic outing and to secure a prominent position on the Medals Table of Honour.
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“I am aware that the Sports Federations Elections in Nigeria are even tougher than our National Elections, we must set our standards to scrutinize what motivates those vying to run the federations and get only the best hands. In a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, the minister also promised to address the issues leading to the nation’s failure in France. Nigeria’s Weightlifters at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games will begin the chase for medals on Thursday, August 8th, 2024, when Lawal files out in the Women’s 59kg weight class at the South Paris Arena inside Paris Expo Complex. President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, has targeted five medals, but would not give their colours. But the Sports Minister Enoh is now exonerating himself of any blame for Nigeria’s woeful outing, saying he was directly involved in the execution of team Nigeria’s participation at the Games. Enoh also stated that preparations have already started for the next All Africa Games in Egypt with the ministry sole intention to displace North African as the perennial winner of the game.
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Competitions from 2024 to 2032 would be diarised and aligned to the programmes of the various federations, and budgeted right to the very base of the programmes for different competitions and qualifiers that lead to different engagements. They would audit their post-Olympic assets – athletes, officials, partners, governance issues, and resolve them. Deficits in all areas would be treated and the areas of strengths are enhanced.
The Ethiopians are projected to finish 17th on the final medal table with a total of 17 medals made up of five gold, six silver and six bronze medals. Victoria Ohuruogu, representing Great Britain, won a bronze medal in the women’s 4×400 meters relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Ohuruogu, the younger sister of former Olympic gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu, has followed in her sister’s footsteps by contributing to Britain’s success in the relay. Her performance in Paris solidified her status as a top athlete in her own right, and her bronze medal added to the family’s Olympic legacy. Samu Omorodion, who represented Spain in men’s football, achieved the highest honor by winning a gold medal.
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The 27-year-old’s throw of 66.41m was significantly below her lifetime best of 71.88m achieved at the beginning of June. This mark also fell well short of the 73.00m qualification standard set by World Athletics for the event. Nemour from Algeria made history as the inaugural African gymnast to claim an Olympic medal by clinching the gold with a mesmerising performance on the uneven bars at the Paris Games on Sunday, captivating the audience at Bercy Arena. According to Britannica, Michael Phelps, often hailed as the “king of medals” in the Olympics, is the most decorated athlete in the Games’ history. During these two and a half weeks, the world’s top athletes will converge to strive for a place in history, seeking to leave their mark and aiming for gold.
The Chinese swimmer won a total of six medals, which included five bronze medals and one silver medal. Meanwhile, French Swimmer Leon Marchand secured four gold medals and one bronze medal. Michael Olise, born to a Nigerian father, played a crucial role in France’s success in the men’s football competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Olise was a key player for the French team, which ultimately won the silver medal.
Towards achieving that vision, I want us to contribute to the welfare of our athletes. Let’s make our athletes happier, contribute to more happiness in our country, and bring joy among Nigerians. I have learnt great lessons about life and how things may not always go as planned in some instances. This mindset has helped me a great deal and it is the same mindset I want us compatriots to embrace and emulate. This is on the heels of the fact that it wasn’t like the Nigerian team crashed out disgracefully in all the events. There were outstanding performances which did not necessarily result in medals.
“I congratulate the athletes who will represent Nigeria on the global stage and I wish them well. Speaking with DAILY POST, Isa Saleh, Co-founder of Borno Junior League, expressed his doubt that Team Nigeria will win many medals for the country. Enoh also promised that the Olympic Games allowances and winning bonuses will be given to ensure Nigerian athletes perform well. Italy came into the Olympics as the Volleyball Nations League champions and did not lose a match en route to gold, dropping one set in the pool stage and none in the knockouts. “I wanted share our big satisfaction, with results that reflect the structural strength of our nation,” sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera added. “This result is an exceptional result,” Claude Onesta, High Performance Manager at the French National Sports Agency, told a news conference on Sunday as France finished fifth in the medals table.
And, as Wanyonyi demonstrates, the talent search should be cast beyond the traditional geographical and cultural catchment areas. Athlete Sifan Hassan was praised after wearing a hijab to accept her gold medal for a record-breaking marathon, defying the ban. Kaylia Nemour from Algeria made history as the first debut African gymnast to claim an Olympic medal by winning the gold in the even bars category. “We did everything as a Ministry to prepare the athletes adequately and provide them with every financial support but unfortunately the performance did not produce any podium finish.
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In a hallmark of good leadership, both the Minister and his Permanent Secretary were fully on the ground to ensure that all logistics, kits, accommodation and allowances of the athletes were duly paid. A review of their chart or calendar of sporting activities and events does indeed collaborate with the fact that this year is eventful in the world calendar of sports. Femi “Bam” Adebayo, often referred to simply as Bam Adebayo, played a crucial role in the USA men’s basketball team’s victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Born to a Nigerian father, Adebayo has become one of the most prominent players in the NBA, known for his defensive prowess and versatility on the court. His contributions to the USA team were instrumental in securing the gold medal, and his performance in Paris further elevated his status as one of the best basketball players in the world.
Simone Biles’ victory in Paris 2024 marked the end of one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. By becoming the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history, the 27-year-old American, who withdrew from Tokyo 2020, returned to win three additional gold medals and one silver in Paris. She led the American women to a team victory at the start of the artistic gymnastics competition, then went on to win golds in the all-around and vault, as well as a silver in the floor exercise. This capped a career that included seven Olympic gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals over three Olympic Games, dating back to Rio 2016.
- “We did everything as a Ministry to prepare the athletes adequately and provide them with every financial support but unfortunately the performance did not produce any podium finish.
- Simone Biles, the gymnastics phenomenon, has secured 3 gold medals, solidifying her status as one of the great Olympians.
- When we are through with the elections, we lose time, fragment the little cohesion the federations have and attend the next Games, usually with a worse management than was in Paris that produced no medals.
- Carini told reporters she had never experienced such hard punches in her career.
- Meanwhile, as Nigeria reflects on its disappointing performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, there is hope that lessons can be learned for the future.
The Nigerian women’s 4X400m relay team maintained their historic 10th straight gold medal while the men’s relay team, after 21 years got back their gold medal. Nigeria achieved her best performance in 1995 when the team, led by Mary Onyali, won a record 15 gold medals. However, the relay event is highly technical and very advantageous to the country. It is thus the major reason that athletes are allowed to participate in all relay qualifications, including the World Relays which was held in Bahamas this May 2024, where the representation of Nigeria was very high and hopeful. So far, the Ministry is desiring success with great expectations in other sporting events with training in the academic areas, proper placement of professional staff and restructuring of all areas. Undoubtedly this lofty ambition comes with huge commitment, devotion and huge financial involvement.
The first individual neutral athlete to medal in the Games was Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya of Belarus, who took silver in women’s trampoline. She is also the first female coach of an African team to record a win at the Olympics. The first and only coach of an African women’s team to record a win in the Preliminary rounds of the Olympics and an upset win at the Olympics against a top-ranked team, and the first and only female coach to qualify Nigeria for the Olympics.
Annette Echikunwoke’s silver medal in the women’s hammer throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics is a testament to her athletic prowess. However, the journey to the podium finish was marked by significant challenges. Born in Ohio https://big-bet.org/ to Nigerian parents, Echikunwoke initially aspired to represent Nigeria. Over his four Olympic appearances in the 1980s and ’90s, Lewis won nine gold medals, cementing his status as one of the sport’s greatest athletes.
In long jump, Ese Brume and two others qualified for finals, first time by any African country. Despite not winning medals, some athletes ranked among the best in the world. As the host nation of the 2024 Olympics, France delivered a spectacular performance that captivated the home crowd and exceeded expectations. The French team secured fifth place in the overall medal table with a total of 64 medals, comprising 16 gold, 26 silver, and 22 bronze. This marked France’s best Olympic performance in recent history and showcased the country’s strength across a wide range of sports.
Another medalist (silver) from Tokyo, Blessing Oborodudu came close to winning a medal but was hampered by injury. In a statement released on his official X page on Saturday, Sports Minister John Enoh described the team’s performance as disappointing and emphasised the need for reforms to enhance effective leadership in the sports sector. The ceremony wrapped up 17 days of exciting sports action set against famous Paris landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Chateau de Versailles. “Also the issue of quality world-class sporting facilities has always been a challenge for the sports industry in Nigeria. That is why it is hard for Nigeria to get the right to host any big competition like AFCON, World Cup,” he further stated. “I doubt if Team Nigeria have been preparing for the last four years for this Paris Olympics because to only partake in 12 out of 32 sports events is not really good.
At the Paris Games, Nigerians watched to their chagrin as their compatriots raked in medals for their adopted countries. They were Rashidat Adeleke (Ireland), who ran in the women’s 400m alongside another Nigerian-born athlete, Victoria Ohuruogu. On Sunday night, the 2024 Olympic Flame was extinguished thus marking the end of the jamboree tinged with colourful and electrifying traditional and cultural displays by the host nation, France. For about two weeks, the world’s finest sportsmen and women, numbering over 10,000 and representing 206 countries, jostled for honours in the 329 events spread across 32 sports at different venues. Adaku Nwandu competed for Nigeria in the Women’s 50m freestyle and secured the second spot with a time of 26.62 seconds. However, her performance did not qualify her for the semi-finals, as she ranked 34th out of the 79 swimmers across the ten heats in the competition.
- Temitope Adeshina competed for Nigeria against 15 other nations in the initial round.
- Breakthroughs were made with first gold medals in artistic swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, women’s boxing and in singles tennis.
- Of these, 14 were in individual events, while four were achieved as part of the Soviet team.
- Surfers will compete in a series of heats, with each heat lasting around 30 to 35 minutes.
- Meanwhile, French Swimmer Leon Marchand secured four gold medals and one bronze medal.
- On Sunday night, the 2024 Olympic Flame was extinguished thus marking the end of the jamboree tinged with colourful and electrifying traditional and cultural displays by the host nation, France.
- Quincy Hall also came from behind, nabbing the U.S. first gold medal in the 400 meters since 2008.
Ogunleye proudly identifies with her German heritage while embracing her Nigerian roots. Unfortunately, no Nigerian has claimed gold this year, a stark contrast to the country’s previous Olympic successes. Alfred edged Richardson in 10.84s to 10.89s, qualifying with the fastest time overall and setting up a highly anticipated duel in the final.
Adding to the list of Olympic legends, Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi earned nine gold and three silver medals, and American swimmer Mark Spitz secured nine gold, one silver, and one bronze. Her collection includes nine gold, five silver, and four bronze medals, which she earned across three Games from 1956 to 1964. That Nigeria’s shambolic performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics games has elicited negative reactions and outright condemnation among many people is not surprising. Nigeria is a nation of about 200million people with over 250 ethnic groups, positioned as one of Africa’s largest economies, boasting about $3,62.81 billion gross domestic product, (GDP). Nigeria has produced some of the most brilliant and successful achievers in sports and other sectors over time. The achievements highlight Uganda’s commitment to promoting sports and nurturing its athletes to excel on an international stage.
In the Class 5 category, Bolawa Akingbemisilu came very close to reaching the quarterfinals but lost in a tight five-set match to Brazil’s Lucas Arabian. Kayode Alabi advanced to the quarterfinals after a strong performance in the Round of 16 in Men’s Singles Para-Table Tennis Class 6. He defeated his Romanian opponent, Bobi Simion, 3-1 (16-18, 11-7, 5-11, 9-11) to secure his spot in the last 8. “Let’s work on our facilities here, not embark on a fruitless training tour in a few months to the start of the Olympics.
Few days after the conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Games, sports loving Nigerians are still reeling with disappointment following the country’s dismal showing. This came shortly after four Nigerian athletes, Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathanial, Dubem Amene and Chidi Okezie were disqualified from participating in the final of men’s 4x400m for alleged violation of a rule of the competition. President Bola Tinubu’s administration has expressed disappointment and concern over Team Nigeria’s failure to secure a single medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, prompting calls for reforms to improve sports administration in the country.
The next Summer Games will hold in Los Angeles, California, the United States of America (USA), in 2028, making it the 4th time the country will host the global sporting community. The win was a proud moment for head coach Rene Wakama, the first coach (male or female) to qualify Nigeria for the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games, especially against a top-ranked team. Ofili surpassed Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who completed the race in second place with 22.28 seconds, and Gina Bass-Bittaye, who secured third place with 22.84 seconds. With this commanding performance, Ofili now focuses on the upcoming semi-final and potential final races on Monday to leave a lasting impact on her Olympic debut and potentially clinch a medal. In this context, Legit.ng highlights the most decorated athletes in the history of the multi-sport event.
Simone Biles, the gymnastics phenomenon, has secured 3 gold medals, solidifying her status as one of the great Olympians. Regan Smith has also excelled, earning 2 gold, 3 silver, and 0 bronze medals. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the athlete with the most medals won was Yefei Zhang.