ODOGWU IN BOX 18: 2024 Paris Olympics And The Expectations of Nigerians
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The 2024 Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11, 2024. The expectation of all Nigerians is for the Team Nigeria athletes to have many podium finishing in virtually all their events. They would want them to surpass the record of 1996, where they won two gold medals and silver and bronze.
Nigerians further expects the 2024 Olympic games in Paris to be very high for the national women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress, and the national women’s football team, the Super Falcons, who are returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2016
Nigerians are highly expecting the country’s athletes to perform exceptionally well in the track and field events, as they make up the larger share of the contingent with 32 athletes. The country is also expecting to see success in other sports like boxing, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling. The expectations are very high on the country’s athletes to improve all round considering their individual performance in their various events.
It is on record that Nigeria has only won 27 medals since they started participating in the Olympic Games since 1952.
The 1952 Helsinki Olympics, where Nigeria made her Olympic debut, with 9 athletes competing in athletics and boxing, they returned with no medal. But, in 1960 Rome Olympics, Nigeria won its first Olympic medal, a bronze in long jump by Noel Baptiste. In 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Nigerian athletes competed in athletics, boxing, and wrestling and returned home with no medal, same was the case in 1968 Mexico City Olympics where the country attended with a team of 23 athletes.
At the 1972 Munich Olympics, Nigerian athletes competed in athletics, boxing, and weightlifting. After 12 years absence, Nigeria returned to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with a team of 32 athletes.
The 1988 Seoul Olympics saw Nigerian athletes won two silver medals in athletics.
55 athletes flew the country's flag in 1992 Barcelona Olympics while 1996 Atlanta Olympics is still ascribed as the best so far, as Nigerian athletes won two gold medals in football and long jump, and a silver and bronze.
2000 Sydney Olympics, Nigeria participated with a team of 83 athletes and returned only two medals. Also in 2004 Athens Olympics, Nigerian athletes won two bronze medals in athletics. 2008 Beijing Olympics, Nigeria participated with a team of 74 athletes, and won a silver medal in football, and bronze in athletics.
Only one bronze medal was won in 2012 London Olympics in athletics. In 2016 Rio Olympics, the country participated with a team of 77 athletes, winning a bronze medal in football. In 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Nigerian athletes won two medals, a silver in wrestling and a bronze in athletics.
A further breakdown of the 14 medals that Nigeria has won so far in the Olympic Games including 2 gold, 3 silver and 9 bronze medals, across various Olympic Games is as thus:
- 1964 Tokyo Olympics: Bronze medal in long jump (Noel Baptiste)
- 1972 Munich Olympics: Bronze medal in 4x100m relay (Timon Oyebami, Benedict Majekodunmi, Peter Oviebo, and Robert Ojo)
- 1984 Los Angeles Olympics: Silver medal in 4x100m relay (Ezekiel Okoro, Olajide Adeniken, Ibrahim Akinremi, and Chidi Imoh) and a silver medal in boxing through Peter Koyegwachi.
- 1992 Barcelona Olympics: Bronze medal in 4x100m relay (Beatrice Utondu, Faith Idehen, Christy Opara, and Mary Onyali) and 2 silver medals through Richard Igbineghu and David Izorite.
- 1996 Atlanta Olympics: Gold in football, gold in high jump by Chioma Ajunwa, and Bronze medal in 4x400m relay (Bimbo Aliyu, Clement Chukwu, Jude Monye, and Sunday Bada)
- 2000 Sydney Olympics: Bronze medal in 4x400m relay (Clement Chukwu, Jude Monye, Sunday Bada, and Enefiok Udo-Obong)
- 2004 Athens Olympics: Bronze medal in 4x100m relay (Olusoji Fasuba, Uchenna Emedolu, Aaron Egbele, and Deji Aliu)
- 2008 Beijing Olympics: Silver medal in 4x100m relay (Olusoji Fasuba, Uchenna Emedolu, Chinedu Oriala, and Obinna Metu)
- 2012 London Olympics: Bronze medal in 4x400m relay (Tosin Adeloye, Endurance Ojokolo, Bukola Abogunloko, and Regina George)
- 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Silver medal in wrestling (Blessing Oborududu) and Bronze medal in athletics (Ese Brume)
Though, Nigerians still expects much from the Team Nigeria athletes in Paris, the question is if the athletes are well prepared and motivated for the task ahead. Because, Olympic champions are not made in four years. They go through adequate and systematic trainings to produce a world beater.
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