This week, Blessing Okagabare became the first Nigerian to win a medal at the Athletic World Championships since 1999 when she won silver in the Long Jump event at the World Athletics Championship in Moscow, Russia.
The Delta-born athlete cleared 6.89 metres but had to finish behind Britney Reese of United States who jumped 7.01metres in her first jump, which was good enough to win her third successive world title.
The second-place finish pushed Nigeria to fifth place on the medals table.
Next up for the Sapele girl is a fight with two-time Olympic Gold medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, for the 100 metres title. Okagbare left Fraser-Pryce in her wake at their last meeting in London a fortnight ago, setting a new African record on the way.
Also in the final is Gloria Asunmu, whose performance here has given Nigeria’s hope a good finish in the 4×100 metres race.
Okagbare will feature in four events, including the Long jump, 4x100m relay, 200m and 100m.
