Nigeria’s Favour Ofili stormed into the final of the 200m race, marking a significant milestone for Nigerian athletics in a heart-stirring moment at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ofili’s performance on Monday secured her the second automatic qualifying spot, reigniting the nation’s hopes for an Olympic medal.
The 22-year-old sprinter clocked a season’s best of 22.05 seconds, finishing just behind St Lucia’s Julien Alfred, the 100m champion, who won the race with a time of 21.98 seconds. The United States’ Mary Long finished third with a time of 22.30 seconds.
Ofili’s achievement is particularly noteworthy as she becomes the first Nigerian to reach the 200m final since Mary Onyali’s historic run at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Born six years after Onyali’s feat, Ofili now aims to surpass her compatriot’s bronze-winning performance. The final is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:40 pm.
This groundbreaking race comes after a challenging start for Ofili, who was omitted from the 100m race due to administrative lapses. Despite this setback, her determination have shone through, earning her a place among the world’s best sprinters.
