AFRICA and the OLYMPICS 🇳🇬

It was a bright summer evening on September 12, 1960. As the sun set behind the Olympic Stadium in Rome, an unknown black figure emerged in front of the field withinside the gruelling marathon event. Tongues wagged in disbelief because the barefooted Abebe Bikila finished the very last lap to wave the Ethiopian flag in triumph.
Some minutes later, he climbed the podium to win the first gold medal won by a black African at the Olympics.

Colonialism delayed black Africa's contribution to Olympic glory, and for more than half a century, Africa's presence at the modern Olympics was limited to Egyptian entries.

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So it was not until the Olympic Games in Tokyo in Japan 1964 that Nigeria won its first Olympic medal, a bronze medal in boxing from Nojim Maiyegun.

Ikhouria (2nd right) at the 1972 Olympics
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Boxer Isaac Ikhuria gained a 2nd bronze for Nigeria in 1972 at the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.

In 1976 and 1980, political problems made African athletes to stay far from the Olympic Games and this had a negative outcome on sport in Africa. In 1984, one African woman, Nawal El Moutawakili won the women's 400m hurdles at the Los Angeles Games, and received a gold medal. That same year, a boxer by name Peter Konyegwachie got the Nigeria's first Olympic silver medal.

Chioma Ajunwa
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Then in 1966, during the Atlanta Olympics, Nigeria amazed the world with a streak of talented success. In athletics, Chioma Ajunwa was the first Nigerian woman to win a gold and that made her a national heroin. The women's relay lost gold by just a tenth of a second. However, Falilat Ogunkoya Ocheku and Mary Onyali won well-deserved bronze medals in the 400 and 200 meters respectively. Another bronze was won by super-heavy boxer Duncan Dokiwari.

But it was in the world's most popular sport, soccer, that Nigeria took center stage in 1996, triumphing over teams from Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina to claim the Africa gold Olympic football. The world applauded the fulfillment of Nigeria's footballers and the country rejoiced.

In 2008 Nigeria received a late gold medal for the 2000 Sydney Olympics after the US 4 × 400 m relay team forfeited their gold medals following a doping scandal. Since 1996, Nigeria's Olympic overall performance has been disappointing, despite the fact that each men's relay groups gained bronzes at Athens in 2004. Nigeria has had good sized achievement in the All Africa Games, with athletes just like the long jumpers Y. Ali and F. Igbinoghene and runners Chidi Imoh, Innocent Egbunike and Mary Onyali.

Mary Onyali
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Critics factor to the want for more funding in sports activities schooling centers in Nigeria and a more emphasis on sports activities in Nigeria's schools.

The medal haul in Beijing 2008- one silver and 3 bronzes- was disappointing, however we ought to pay tribute to those who participated and specifically those that finished successfully. These are Damola Osayomi, Francisca Idoko, Gloria kemasuede and Em Ede(the women's 4x400m relay team), Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije (men's 80g taekwondo), and Blessing Okagbare(women's long jump) all of whom received bronze medals and our football team, who got so near getting a gold.
Their achievement on the Games would be a spring of delight and inspiration to Nigerians.

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Thank you!!.