Favour Ofili finished sixth in the women's 200m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, clocking 22.24 seconds. Gabrielle Thomas of the USA won gold. Ofili's performance marks the first time a Nigerian has reached the final since 1996.
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili finished sixth in the women's 200 metres final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday. Ofili, 21, clocked a time of 22.24 seconds.
The gold medal went to Gabrielle Thomas from the United States, who finished in 21.83 seconds. Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia secured the silver with a time of 22.08 seconds, while Brittany Brown, also from the USA, claimed bronze.
Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Ofili had earlier qualified for the final with the third-best time in the semi-finals but struggled to keep pace with her competitors in the final stretch of the race.
Ofili’s participation in the final marks a significant achievement, as she is the first Nigerian to compete in the event’s final since Mary Onyali in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Despite a strong start, she could not maintain her speed in the final 100 meters, resulting in her sixth-place finish.
Attention now shifts to the women's 4x100 meters relay, where Ofili is expected to compete. The relay events are scheduled to begin on Thursday, and the Nigerian team hopes to make a strong showing.
This result has sparked conversations about Nigeria's athletic future and the potential for improvement in international competitions. Supporters are optimistic about Ofili’s potential in future events and her role in inspiring the next generation of Nigerian athletes.
