The Tokyo Olympics has had its fair share of drama on and off the sport’s arena. Team Nigeria is no exception but in the middle of all those distractions, Nigeria made very important progress at the games.
Here are eight amazing facts about Nigeria’s performances at the Tokyo Olympics.
1. Nigeria got a bronze medal in long jump, 25 years after Chioma Ajunwa won gold in Atlanta 1996.
2. Nigeria won a silver medal for wrestling, first Olympic medal ever in the history of the sport.
3. 21-year-old Enoch Adegoke became only the third Nigeria to get to the Finals of the 100 Meters Men event.
4. Nigeria bagged 2 medals, a silver and a bronze, placing her 68 out of the 205 countries at the Tokyo Olympics and 4th in Africa.
5. Nigerian Olympians made a record 5 finals at the Tokyo Olympics.
6. Nigerian Olympians set several new personal best PBs records in athletics
7. Nigeria reached the final of shot put for the first time in her history.
8. Nigeria performed better at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when compared with London 2012 Olympics with zero medal and the Rio 2016 Olympics with one bronze medal.
There is much to hope for the future. As the Minister for Youth and Sports said, “Most of our athletes are young and debutants – experiencing Olympics for the first time. They remain committed patriots who gave their all and I have nothing but pride for their tenacity and commitment to deliver smiles to the faces on Nigerians.We have started building a new generation of Young Nigerian athletes. There is much hope.”
