Nigeria's 2024 Olympic campaign ended without a medal, marking the country's eighth medal-less Games. Despite the disappointment, there were promising performances in athletics, with six finalists, including Favour Ofili and Samuel Ogazi, showing progress. The focus now shifts to building on these positives for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Nigeria's 2024 Olympic campaign in Paris ended without a single medal, marking the nation's eighth Olympic appearance without any podium finishes. The last hope, wrestler Hannah Reuben, was defeated in the women's freestyle wrestling second round, confirming Nigeria’s disappointing outcome. Despite the lack of medals, there were notable achievements to build on for the future.
The 2024 Olympics were marked by positive strides in athletics, with six Nigerian athletes reaching the finals, including Favour Ofili in the 200m, who became the first Nigerian woman since 1996 to achieve this feat. Additionally, Samuel Ogazi's qualification for the 400m final marked the first for a Nigerian man since 1988. In the Long Jump, three Nigerian athletes, Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro, and Prestina Ochonogor, made history by all reaching the final in one event, a first for Nigeria. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi's sixth-place finish in Shot Put further added to the promising performances.
Although the medal drought continues, these achievements suggest a brighter future for Nigerian athletics, as the nation now turns its focus to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming to build on the progress made in Paris. The athletes' dedication and improvement in performance provide hope for better results in future global competitions.
