Olympic Silver Medalist Blessing Oborududu to Retire from Wrestling at National Sports Festival
Nigerian Olympic silver medalist and twelve-time African champion, Blessing Oborududu, is set to retire from wrestling at the ongoing 2025 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Oborududu, who began her wrestling journey as a secondary school student at the Gateway Games in 2006, has chosen to end her remarkable career where it all started — in Ogun State.
Her talent was first recognised in 2007 when she was invited to the national camp after impressing at school inter-house wrestling competitions. That invitation marked the beginning of a glittering career that saw her rise to become one of Africa’s greatest female wrestlers.
Though her parents were not initially in support of her becoming a wrestler — believing the sport was meant only for boys — Blessing remained determined. She found inspiration in Canadian-Nigerian wrestler Daniel Igali, Nigeria’s first Olympic wrestling medallist, and chose to follow the same path.
Despite losing her first match at the 2006 Gateway Games, Oborududu bounced back and went on to win gold medals at every National Sports Festival she competed in — including Kaduna 2009, Rivers 2011, Lagos 2012, Abuja 2018, Edo 2021, and Delta 2022.
Now, after nearly two decades of representing Nigeria with honour and pride, she is saying goodbye to the sport she helped grow through her dedication, passion, and achievements.
Blessing Oborududu’s name will always be remembered in Nigerian and African wrestling. Her retirement marks the end of an era, and she leaves the stage as a true legend of the sport.
