2024 Paris Olympics: Nigeria poise for good outings with A-list athletes

Posted : 16 June 2024

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Nigeria is expected to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking 72 years since its first appearance at the 1952 Games in Helsinki, Finland.

Team Nigeria went to Helsinki with nine athletes and has since consistently competed in every Summer Olympics, except for the 1976 Olympics, which it boycotted.

Nigeria achieved a podium finish in boxing when Nojeem Maiyegun won a Bronze medal in the men’s light middleweight class after his bout with Jozef Grzesiak of Poland.

Before Maiyegun’s historic medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Nigeria had missed podium finishes in Melbourne, Australia, and Rome, Italy, in 1956.

Following Maiyegun’s bronze medals, Nigeria faced challenges, with no medal finishes at the Mexico 1968 games.

Team Nigeria also secured another bronze medal in boxing at the Munich 1972 games through Isaac Ikhouria in the light heavyweight class.

The country achieved a better podium finish at the 1984 Olympics in Munich, Germany, winning a silver and a bronze medal respectively.

In 1992 in Barcelona, Spain, Team Nigeria’s medal haul peaked with three medals – one gold, one silver, and one bronze.

Nigeria’s boxers became a formidable force, earning recognition when David Izonritei and Richard Igbineghu won silver medals in the men’s heavyweight and men’s super-heavyweight categories respectively.

Nigeria also clinched a gold medal through the relay teams, with the men’s quartet of Olapade Adeniken, Davidson Ezinwa, Chidi Imoh, and Oluyemi Kayode winning silver, and the women’s quartet of Beatrice Utondu, Christy Opara-Thompson, Mary Onyali, and Faith Idehen winning bronze in the 4×100m relay races.

Nigeria reached its peak at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, with the men's football team claiming the gold medal in an epic victory over Argentina.

Chioma Ajunwa also made history as the first West African woman to win a gold medal in the Olympic games and Nigeria’s first Olympic gold medalist in women’s long jump.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Nigeria recorded three silver medals, later upgraded to a gold medal through a boardroom decision in the 4x400m relay race.

In 2012, Nigeria’s medal tally was further enhanced when the U.S. team was stripped of their gold medal, which was then awarded to Nigeria.

Despite these achievements, Nigeria has not replicated its performances of 1996 and 2000, particularly in athletics.

However, there is optimism that Nigeria’s current athletes, including sprinters Tobiloba Amusan, Favour Ofili, and Favour Ashe, can lead the country to success at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

With preparations underway and athletes in peak performance, Nigeria aims to surpass previous Olympic achievements and make a mark in Paris.

2024 Paris Olympics: Nigeria poise for good outings with A-list athletes

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