Paris 2024: Nigerians Who Won Medals for Other Countries at the Olympics
The Paris 2024 Olympics witnessed remarkable performances from athletes across the globe, including several individuals of Nigerian descent who represented other nations.
Their incredible achievements on the world stage have brought pride not only to their adopted countries but also to Nigeria, showcasing the exceptional talent that the nation continues to produce.
Here, we highlight the Nigerian athletes who secured medals for other countries at the 2024 Olympics.
Yemisi Ogunleye
Ogunleye is a German shot putter. She won the gold medal in the shot put at the 2024 Paris Olympics with 20.00 meters in the last round.
With her victory, Ogunleye became the first German to win the shot put event in 28 years, since the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.
Ogunleye was born in Germany to a Nigerian father from Ekiti and a German mother.
After her win, Ogunleye acknowledged her diverse background in a video trending on social media and sang a Yoruba gospel song.
Annette Echikunwoke
Annette Nneka Echikunwoke is a Nigerian-American hammer thrower who lives in Ohio, United States. She was due to represent Nigeria at the 2020 Summer Olympics, but was disqualified due to the negligence of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. She changed allegiance and represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the event, the first Olympic medal for the U.S. in the women’s hammer throw event. She holds the African area record in hammer throw, with a throw of 75.49 m in Tucson in 2021.
Samu Omorodion
Born in Melilia, Spain, to Nigerian parents, the 20-year-old forward is set to sign for Premier League side, Chelsea, from Atletico Madrid, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Omorodion was part of the Spanish side that defeated host, France, 5-3 in extra time to win Olympic gold in men’s football.
He scored just once in the competition, in a 2-1 loss to Egypt in the group stage.
Salwa Eid Naser
The Nigerian-born sprinter won silver for Bahrain in the 400m women’s event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She crossed the finish line in 48.53 seconds, trailing Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who set a new Olympic record with a time of 48.17 seconds.
The 26-year-old formerly known as Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu was born in Onitsha, Anambra.
Michael Olise
Bayern Munich’s new signing Olise was part of the French team that won silver in men’s football.
Olise was born in England to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother.
His younger brother, Richard, plays for Chelsea FC in England.
