Ayomide Bello becomes the first Nigerian to win gold at an international water competition.
Ayomide Bello has put Nigeria on the world map when she won a gold medal at the Open International Canoe Sprint Competition making her the first Nigerian to win the top prize at an international water sports competition. The athlete took home gold at the Open International Canoe Sprint Competition in India, coming in first place in the final of the 200-meter event.
Since the Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation (NRCSF) was formed, the country has never finished tops in an international outdoor water sports competition.
According to Nigerian Sports publication Brila, The athlete also won bronze in the “individual event (C1 500m), and two more in the C2 500m and C2 200m team events, with her partner Blessing Amusar.” Their success means that Team Nigeria left the competition with a total of four medals.
Both athletes competed in the 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina, as highlighted in this BBC Pidgin report.
“The federation is proud of the achievement of the athletes in India and we hope they will do more in other international engagement,” Secretary of the NRCSF, Bunmi Oluode, told the News Agency of Nigeria, according to The Sun.
Next, the athlete will head to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where we hope to see her shine once again.
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