Blessing Okagbare and many other Nigerians have been distinguished with the honour of being inducted into the African Athletics Confederation (CAA) Hall of Fame at the ongoing African Senior Athletics Championship in Asaba, Delta State. A total of 16 athletes including world 800m champion, Caster Semenya were inducted.
Amongst the inductees were: Africa’s fastest man with 9.85 secs Olusoji Fasuba and current UK junior indoor record holder, Tosin Oke; the Nigerian team at the 4 x 200m event of the IAAF world relays championships in 2015- Christy Udoh, Regina George, Dominique Duncan and Okagabre-Ighoteguonor; and the Kenyan trio- David Rudisha, a two-time world champion in the 800m race, Ezekiel Kemboi, winner of the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2004 Summer Olympics and Rio Olympics 5000m Gold medalist, Vivan Cheruyoit.
Also inducted was South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk the current Olympic and world record holder in the 400m race.
Tirunesh Dibaba, 5000m outdoor record holder; Mesert Defar, three-time record holder in the 5000m; Genzebe Dibaba, world record holder in the 2000m indoor event; Kenenisa Bekele, current world and Olympic record holder in both the 5000m and 10,000m events; and Almaz Ayana, women’s 10,000m world record breaker at the Rio Olympic Games, all of Ethiopian descent, were recognized for their outstanding performances over the years.
Nigeria’s sprint queen, Okagbare, who was present at the induction, thanked the CAA on behalf of the athletes for the honour bestowed them stating “Recognition is a great achievement too for us who have served the continent… It is not only about winning medals but achievement like this can boost the confidence of athletes. Thank you again.”
Feature image: brila.net
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