In a double triumph for Nigerian athletics, Ezekiel Nathaniel, the nation’s record-holder in the 400m hurdles, has secured his spot at the highly anticipated Paris 2024 Olympics.
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Nathaniel’s journey to Olympic glory took center stage at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he dazzled the crowd by clocking an impressive 48.47 seconds in the 400m heat.
Although he finished sixth in his semifinal, his stellar performance was enough to earn him a coveted ticket to the Paris Games. Remarkably, his time of 48.47 seconds came tantalizingly close to shattering the National Record (NR).
The entry standard for the 400m in Paris 2024 stands at 48.70 seconds, a bar that Nathaniel confidently cleared, securing his place on the grand Olympic stage.
Meanwhile, the resilient long jumper, Ese Brume, came achingly close to confirming her Paris 2024 ticket at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
With a remarkable leap of 6.84 meters, she claimed a commendable fourth-place finish in the final. Brume’s journey through the Olympic Games has been nothing short of remarkable.
She was Nigeria’s last athlete standing at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where she made her debut, finishing fifth in the final.
The Delta State-born long jumper’s Olympic journey reached a pinnacle at the last Games in Tokyo, Japan, where she clinched a coveted bronze medal.
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While her Paris 2024 qualification remains just two centimeters away, many devoted followers of athletics believe that there is still ample time for Brume to secure her place on the world stage once more.
As the road to Paris 2024 unfolds, the eyes of the world are fixed on these remarkable Nigerian athletes, Nathaniel and Brume, as they strive to make their mark on the Olympic stage.
Their unwavering dedication and indomitable spirit serve as an inspiration to athletes and sports enthusiasts alike, fostering hope and anticipation for what promises to be an unforgettable Olympic spectacle in the City of Light.
