Nigerian Women did the Birmingham Job- they broke 5 Games record and dragged Nigeria to 7th overall at the Commonwealth Games

MON, 08 AUG, 2022-theGBJournal| Nigerian women athletes did the Birmingham job and set up two of the most memorable sporting moments for Nigeria in Athletics at the just concluded Commonwealth games in Birmingham, England.

Ese Brume and Tobi Amusan broke the long jump and 100 meters hurdles record respectively.

Brume leapt 7 meters in the women’s long jump final with her 6^th attempt to set a new games record while Tobi Amusan hurtled through the hurdles on her way to a blistering 12.30 seconds for new Games record. Amusan now holds World record, Commonwealth record and the African record.

To add to these two great moments, was when para-athlete Goodness Nwachukwu threw a distance of 36.58 in the F42-44-84 Women’s Discus competition to set a new Games record beating the previous marker (33.35) by over 3 meters.

Two days later on the 6^th of August Eucharia Iyiazi broke another para-Games record in the Women’s F55-57 Shot Put. She shot an inconceivable 10.3 meters on that glorious sunny day in Birmingham to send the crowd and hundreds of Nigerians in the crowd into wild frenzy.

Reigning Paralympic and three-time World champion, 37-year old Folashade Oluwafemiayo won the women’s Para powerlifting heavyweight (over 61 kg) with a new World and Commonwealth Games record. She lifted 155kg in her third attempt to amass 123.4 points for the new record. Bose Omolayo, her team mate finished 8.2 points to take silver medal.

Nigeria’s super talented Chioma Onyekwere became the first woman to win Gold in the Women’s Discus at a Commonwealth Games. The Abia State born Mechanical Engineer with Ford Motors threw a season best (SB) of 61.70M to win the coveted medal. Her compatriot, Obiageri Amechi clinched the Bronzo throwing 56.99M.

In wrestling, Nigeria’s flag flew high, with women again hoisting it. Odunayo Folashade Adekuoroye won the Gold in Women’s Freestyle 57kg while Miesinnei Mercy Genesis beat all contenders to the Gold in the Women’s Freestyle 50kg.

Again, the Women won the gold in the 4x100M Relay. The quartet of Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha won the medal in a time of 42.10 seconds to set a new African record.

Overall, Nigeria was celebrated 35 times at the Alexander Stadium as they secured 12 Gold medals, 9 Silver and 14 Bronze medals.

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