BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medal record set by Chioma Ajunwa where she became Nigeria’s first ever individual Olympic goldist is at the verge of being broken after 28, as three female Nigerian athletes reach the final of the same Long Jump event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The trio of Ese Brume (6.76),Ruth Usoro (6.68) and Pristina Ochonogor (6.650 who were all on top of their games in the Long Jump event in Paris reached the final event alongside nine others who will be jostling for the medals on the final day.
While nine others will be looking forward to also accomplishing the task of winning the gold, the trio of Brume, Usoro and Ochonogor will be hoping to break the Olympics record set by their fellow compatriot, Chioma Ajunwa 28 years ago.
Since setting that record at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, no set of Nigerian athletes have ever attempted to break that record by reaching this level until the trio accomplished this.
However, Ajunwa’s 28-year-old record stands tall for her fellow Nigerians as her first attempt was 7.12meters while the highest achieved to reach the final was Brume’s 6.76meter record.
Ese Brume who is currently the third in world ranking and second highest ranked among the12 in the final will bear the burden of Nigeria on her shoulder.
She will have to slug it out with Davis-Woodhall Tara of the United States of America who is the world’s number one ranking and also among the 12 who reached the final.
The final of the Long Jump event will take place on the final day of the Olympics event in Paris.