Image copyright: Getty Images
2020 Summer Olympic Games
Tokyo, Japan
July 23 - August 8, 2021
Nigeria scooped two medals at the
2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and it was their 17th appearance in the prestigious tournament.
Blessing Oborududu won silver in women's wrestling freestyle at 68 kg and she became the first Nigerian athlete to win a medal in wrestling at the Olympics.
The 32-year-old lost the final of the event 4-1 to the USA's Tamyra Mensah-Stock, but won silver in the process, earning Nigeria only her second medal at the 2020 Olympics.
Oborududu is now ranked as the world's number two woman wrestler and she is also a ten-time African champion from 2010 to 2020.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Nigeria's first medal in Tokyo was won by
Ese Brume, who scooped bronze in women's long jump after leaping 6.97 meters to finish third.
The 25-year-old came into the tournament having won the bronze medal in the Long Jump event at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, with a jump of 6.91 meters.
"This [Olympics] medal means a lot to me. It doesn't matter the colour. First I dedicate it to Bishop Oyedepo and I plan to decorate him with the medal later," Brume said.
"I'm super excited that I made it to the top three at the Olympics. Honestly, I can't contend with my joy."
The West African country had also pinned its hopes on
Blessing Okagbare (athletics),
Divine Oduduru (athletics) and the
men's national basketball team.
Okagbare, who is one of the fastest African women, won her first-round heat in the women's 100 meters with a time of 11.05.
However, the 32-year-old was subsequently suspended on July 31 after failing a drug test taken on July 19, which tested positive for human growth hormone.
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Much was expected from Oduduru having finished second behind athletics icon Usain Bolt in the men's 200 meters on his Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Delta State-born sprinter, who is a two-time Nigerian national champion, competed in both the 100 meters and 200 meters events and he failed to reach the final in both events.
Nigeria had sent a warning to the teams who were set to participate in the men's basketball competition in Tokyo by defeating tournament favourites and eventual champions, USA 90-87 in an exhibition match.
However, the D'Tigers disappointed many as they lost all of their three group matches against Australia, Italy, and Germany and they failed to reach the knockout phase.
Nigeria's performance at 2020 Olympic Games
Medals: 2
Gold Medals: 0
Silver Medals: 1
Bronze Medals: 1
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