Favour Ofili, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and Rosemary Chukwuma shine as Nigeria’s top Athletes in 2024
Despite a challenging year for Nigerian athletics, three athletes – Favour Ofili, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and Rosemary Chukwuma – have given fans something to celebrate by finishing among the world’s top 10 in their respective events for 2024.
These three athletes stood out as Nigeria’s highest-ranked performers on the global stage, ending the season among the world’s elite.
Favour Ofili’s Outstanding Year Favour Ofili, known for her blistering speed, had an impressive season as Nigeria’s top sprinter. She made it to the Olympic 200m final in Paris, becoming the first Nigerian to achieve this feat in 28 years. Ofili’s standout moment came in the semifinal, where she ran a remarkable 22.05 seconds to finish second, ranking her seventh in the world for 2024. Though she finished sixth in the final with a time of 22.24 seconds, her performances have solidified her place among the world’s fastest women.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi’s Record-Breaking Performances Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Nigeria’s shot put star, had a fantastic season, setting a new national record and competing at the highest levels. Enekwechi made history as the first Nigerian thrower to qualify for a Diamond League final, finishing fifth with a distance of 21.29 meters. His best throw of the season came at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in May, where he set a new Nigerian record of 21.91 meters, placing him ninth on the world’s top 10 list. He also finished sixth in the men’s shot put final at the Paris Olympic Games.
Rosemary Chukwuma’s Breakthrough Year Rosemary Chukwuma had a breakthrough year in the 100m event. She clocked a personal best of 10.88 seconds at the NCAA West Preliminaries, making her one of the top 10 fastest women in the world in 2024. Her time also makes her the second-fastest Nigerian female sprinter in history, behind only the legendary Blessing Okagbare. Chukwuma reached the semifinals at the Paris Olympics, further proving her growing reputation on the world stage.
These three athletes have brought pride to Nigeria, ending the season on a high and giving fans hope for the future of Nigerian athletics.
