For the first time in history, three Nigerian women have qualified for the final of the women’s Long Jump event at the Olympic Games.
This unprecedented feat sees Nigeria represented by Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro, and Prestina Ochonogor, who have all secured their spots in the highly anticipated final of the long jump event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Ese Brume leaped to an automatic qualifying mark of 6.76m, securing her place in the final with a powerful last attempt. Ruth Usoro impressed with a jump of 6.68m, showcasing her potential and earning her first Olympic final appearance. Prestina Ochonogor also made a remarkable debut with a jump of 6.65m.
Out of the 12 finalists, three are Nigerians, making this a significant moment in Nigeria’s athletic history. Since Nigeria began competing in the Olympics in 1952, the country has never had three athletes advance to the final of an individual event. This historic achievement was made more exciting by the inspiring performance of Ese Brume, who, despite being in danger of missing the final, delivered a clutch jump to secure her spot.
While Brume is no stranger to the Olympic finals, this will be the first time for Ruth Usoro and Prestina Ochonogor. The final will take place on Thursday, August 8th at 7:00 PM, Nigerian time.
The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, congratulated the athletes on their remarkable achievement and charged them to aim for medals in the final.
“This is a historic moment for Nigeria, and I urge our athletes to give their best in the final. They have made us proud by reaching this stage, and we believe they can achieve even greater heights,” said the Minister.
