The recent conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris has left Nigerian sports enthusiasts reeling in disappointment. Despite fielding 88 athletes across 12 sporting events, the country failed to secure a single medal. This poor performance has raised questions about the preparation and welfare of Nigerian athletes.
Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, and Blessing Oborodudu were among the top athletes expected to perform well, but they failed to meet expectations. Amusan, the current world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, finished third in the semi-final, while Brume, a bronze medalist in Tokyo, finished fifth in the women’s long jump final. Oborodudu, a silver medalist in Tokyo, was hampered by injury and failed to win a medal.
The only bright spot for Nigeria was the women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, who made it to the quarter-finals, beating higher-ranked teams like Australia and Canada in the group stage. However, they ultimately lost to the United States in the quarter-finals.
Sports analysts and former athletes have attributed Nigeria’s poor performance to inadequate preparation and welfare for the athletes. Cece Omorogbe, a seasoned athletics reporter, emphasized the need for better preparation and welfare, citing the example of Udodi Onwuzurike, who won the men’s 200m title at the World U-20 Championship three years ago but failed to make it to the final in Paris.
Chioma Ajunwa, an Atlanta ’96 women’s long jump gold medalist, also stressed the importance of proper preparation and motivation for athletes. She noted that athletes need to focus on their training without distractions and that the government and private sector should do more to support them.
To improve Nigeria’s performance in future Olympics, Charles Ogundiya, an award-winning journalist, suggested that the country needs to invest more in sports, provide better facilities, and ensure continuity in sports development programs. Omorogbe added that Nigeria should focus on developing local coaches and facilities rather than relying on foreign training tours.
Overall, Nigeria’s dismal performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics has sparked concern and highlighted the need for better preparation, welfare, and investment in sports development.