Jamesqu:

We have three gold now with the award of the Sydney 4x400mM gold to us following Pettigrew's drug scandal..shame Bada is not around to receive his...

chic2pimp: I'll be surprised if Blessing Okagbare actually medals in the olympics because from my point of view I don't see it. Hope I am proven wrong though.

I actually don't think her PB is good enough. My Favourite Female Athlete Allyson Felix for instance has run a PB of 10.92(this season)and no one mentions her name amongst the likely medallist. The Medallist are going to come from this group of four athletes in no particular order namely Shelley Ann Fraser Pryce,Veronica Campbell Brown ,Carmelita Jeter and Kerron Stewart

I also do think the top three girls in the 100M would run under 10.8(or at worst the third would run 10.82) and honestly don't see blessing coming anywhere near that time. Anytime close to 10.90 would be a blessing(no pun intended)for her. A medal of any colour with that time would be an added bonus.

GenBuhari: I think I have to agree with your analysis. however what she has in her favour is the element of a young woman who is improving by the day and there is just an unknown element of how much she can improve when in the olympic final.

Dis Guy:

improving by the day one thing, cutting your PB by 0.10sec is something else

ola_pluto: I will like to personally recognise the patriotism of Amaechi Morton. He was treated badly by Nigeria but he still chose Nigeria. He graduated last month, 3 days before his race at the African Champs. He surprised everyone by making his way down to win a gold for Nigeria. He is a very likeable character and I will ask his permission to put up his pix here

SamAfrik: Nice preview.
How I wish Nigerian youths were involved in sport. our govt is letting us down wit poor facilities @ d stadiums (now drinking bars)
Its obvious our athletes are only relying on talents, so I will b content whichever way dy peform.

akintun: We would be represented by a woman called Ogoke in d 75 Kg category. She got to d second round of d world championship and was defeated by d eventual semi-finalist who is a Russian. It would be very difficult 4 her to win a medal, but anything can happen.

Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare believes she can upset the pecking order at the Olympics and outshine her 100m rivals from Jamaica and the United States.



The 23-year-old has hit form at the right time, dipping under 11 seconds twice this month to record victories at both the London and Monaco Diamond League events against her fellow competitors for sprint gold.

At Crystal Palace earlier this month, Okagbare scored a surprise win over defending Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and reigning world champion Carmelita Jeter.

She then followed that up with victory in Monaco, clocking a season’s best 10.96sec. Although her rivals from Jamaica and the United States remain the bookmakers’ favourites, Okagbare says she is unfazed by the prospect of lining up against them in London.

“You race with them from day to day. It’s not any different at the Olympic Games,” she told AFP.

“They are not threats to me. When I went to Beijing, I was 19 and I got the bronze medal. This year it feels different.”

The Delta State-born athlete had a below par performance at the recent African Athletics Championships in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, losing her African 100m title to little-known Gabonese sprinter Ruddy Milama.

But her fantastic outing in Crystal Palace and Monaco has again made her one of the favourites in the women’s 100m in London.

Okagbare, a bronze medallist in the long jump in Beijing four years ago, now has genuine belief she can add a medal in the 100m in London.

“My recent win in Monaco has boosted my confidence,” Okagbare said. “I think I’m ready to face the world. I’m just going to go out and do my best.

“I’m aiming for a top three overall. If I get the gold, I’ll take it. Whatever happens I will accept my fate.”

Damn! This Blessing Okagbare babe is fine

ola_pluto: Interesting comments made about Okagbare. I will like to point out a few facts:
1. Olympic gold is not won by previous PB, it is won by the first to line on that final day. So, theoretically, any of the 8 finalists can wifront.

ola_pluto: Interesting comments made about Okagbare. I will like to point out a few facts:
2. Talking of form, Okagbare is the most in-form 100m runner going into the olympics. She has defeated the same people she will likely meet in the final.

ola_pluto: Interesting comments made about Okagbare. I will like to point out a few facts:
3. An analysis of Okagbare's races will show you that she can surely dip into 10.80. In fact, I feel her coach can push her towards that. Blessing is coached by John Smith (the man who coached Ato Boldon, Maurice Green, and even Carmeliter Jeter). She is surely gaining a lot from this man.
When Okagbare started the season at the Mt SACs Relays, I was very doubtful of her new technique. She has since mastered it. IF Blessing can get the kind of start Fraser-Pryce gets, she will do a 10.70. I believe she will dip below 10.90 as situation demands. In sprint, you never know the day you will run fast. Little details really do count.

ola_pluto: Interesting comments made about Okagbare. I will like to point out a few facts:
As for the comparisons with the Jamaicans, I will respect them for what they have done, but thats about it. Jamaicans lack discipline in competition. While they have the talents, some of them cannot stand competition. Someone like Asafa Powell cannot chase down people. He prefers to always be in front. Even if someone posted 10.70 earlier this season, it doesnt mean they will repeat it on that night in London. Form really matters