Nigerian athlete Favour Ofili on Friday secured her place in the women’s 200m event at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Her triumph came after a stunning victory at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic at the James G. Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.
Breaking out of the starting blocks with determination, Ofili blazed through the track, clocking an impressive 22.33secs (+1.4 m/s). This timing not only represents her personal best in two years but also surpasses the Paris 2024 Olympics’ qualifying standard of 22.57secs.
In a fiercely competitive field, Ofili emerged victorious, leaving behind formidable opponents Anavia Battle (USA) and Denmark’s Ida Karstoft.
Ofili’s outstanding performance makes her the seventh Nigerian athlete to automatically qualify for this year’s Olympics, joining Tobi Amusan, Edose Ibadin, Ruth Usoro, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Favour Ashe, and Ezekiel Nathaniel.
Her latest achievement underscores Nigeria’s prowess in track and field and her ticket to Paris is a testament to her resilience and unwavering commitment to succeed.
Her success comes in her debut season as a professional athlete, highlighting her immense talent and dedication to the sport.
Despite previous setbacks, including her disqualification from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to administrative reasons, Ofili’s determination has propelled her to aim for new heights at the upcoming Games in Paris.
