Paris 2024: More Nigerians Win Medals for Other Nations

As the Paris 2024 Olympics draw to a close, the wait for Nigeria’s golden moment continues. However, Nigerian athletes competing for other nations have already secured several medals. Samu Omoridion and Yemisi Ogunleye are among the latest Nigerian-descended athletes to win gold at these Games.

Omoridion played a key role in Spain’s victory in the men’s football final, where they defeated France 5-3 to claim the gold medal. Although Omoridion was listed for the final match, he is currently finalizing a transfer to Chelsea FC. The final match noted as the highest-scoring Olympic men’s football final, saw another player of Nigerian descent, Michael Olise, representing France. Despite his efforts, Olise had to settle for a silver medal as Spain clinched the victory after 120 minutes.

In athletics, Yemisi Ogunleye made history by becoming the first German woman in 28 years to win a gold medal in the women’s shot put. Ogunleye’s final throw of 20.00 meters secured her the top spot, narrowly beating New Zealand’s Maddison Lee Wesche and China’s Song Jiayuan. Ogunleye, who captured the emotional moment with the German flag draped around her shoulders, emphasized the power of faith and determination in her achievement.

Before these victories, Nigerian-born athlete Salwa Eid Naser won silver for Bahrain in the women’s 400m event, finishing behind Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who set a new Olympic record. Another Nigerian descended athlete, Rhasidat Adeleke, representing the Republic of Ireland, narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in the same race.

Earlier in the week, Annette Echikunwoke secured a silver medal in the hammer throw for the USA after switching allegiance from Nigeria. With these achievements, Nigerian descended athletes have now won five medals for other countries at the Paris 2024 Olympics, comprising two golds and three silvers. Meanwhile, Team Nigeria is still in search of its first medal, with only wrestler Hannah Blessing left to compete and potentially prevent the team from leaving the Games empty-handed.

Editorial

The Paris 2024 Olympics have once again highlighted the phenomenon of Nigerian athletes excelling on the world stage but under the flags of other nations. While we take pride in the achievements of Samu Omoridion, Yemisi Ogunleye, Salwa Eid Naser, and others, there is a deep sense of introspection needed about the state of Nigerian sports.

The sight of Nigerian-descended athletes winning medals for countries like Spain, Germany, and the USA is both inspiring and disheartening. It raises critical questions about why these athletes, despite their Nigerian roots, chose to represent other nations. The reasons are multifaceted ranging from better training facilities, and more robust sports development programs, to greater financial and career opportunities abroad.

We must confront the reality that Nigeria’s sports system is failing to retain its top talent. The athletes who have chosen to compete for other countries often cite the lack of support and infrastructure at home as a decisive factor in their decision. While they achieve glory on the global stage, Nigeria is left to ponder what might have been if these talents were nurtured and celebrated within our borders.

We must reassess our approach to sports development. Investing in grassroots programs, providing state of the art training facilities, and offering comprehensive support to athletes are crucial steps. Additionally, we need to create an environment where athletes feel valued and see a future in representing Nigeria. Without these changes, the trend of Nigerian athletes winning medals for other nations will likely continue, leaving our national teams bereft of world class talent.

As we celebrate the achievements of our athletes abroad, let us also commit to building a system that encourages future generations to proudly compete for Nigeria. The time to act is now so that in future Olympic Games, we see more Nigerian flags on the podium not just as a footnote in the successes of other countries.

Did You Know?

1. The 2024 Paris Olympics is the first time Spain has won the gold medal in men’s football since their victory in Barcelona in 1992.
2. Yemisi Ogunleye’s victory in the women’s shot put marks Germany’s first gold in the event since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
3. Salwa Eid Naser, who won silver in the women’s 400m for Bahrain, was born in Nigeria and switched allegiance to Bahrain in 2014.
4. Rhasidat Adeleke, who finished fourth in the women’s 400m, is Ireland’s national record holder in the event, a record she set in 2023.
5. Annette Echikunwoke, who won silver in the hammer throw for the USA, holds the NCAA record in the indoor weight throw, a record she set in 2017 while competing for the University of Cincinnati.