Favour Ofili: Nigerian Star Through to Women’s 200 Final at Paris 2024

Favour Ofili: Nigerian Star Through to Women’s 200 Final at Paris 2024

  • Favour Ofili eased through to the final of the women's 200m at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France
  • Ofili has dealt beautifully with the disappointment of missing out on the 100m by reaching the biggest of finals
  • She will now compete against the likes of world silver medalist Gabrielle Thomas and Olympic champion Julien Alfred in the final

Favour Ofili moved one step closer to realising her Olympic dream after another wonderful run saw her qualify for the women's 200m final.

The Nigerian clocked 22.05 to clinch second place in the first semi-final and earn one of the automatic spots in the final.

Favour Ofili, Paris 2024 Olympics, women's 200m, Julien Alfred
Favour Ofili celebrates after qualifying for the women's 200m final at the Paris Olympics. Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images.
Source: Getty Images

The heat was won by new Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, who ran 21.97 seconds.

Ofili did not have the best of build-ups to this race after learning she wasn't registered for the 100m event.

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Favour Ofili at Paris 2024 Olympics

The Louisiana University graduate had planned to compete in at least three events, but the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Olympic Committee failed to register her for the shorter sprint.

The wounded sprinter took to the track in the 200m round 1, cruising to a comfortable season's best of 22.24 to beat 2019 World Champion Dina Asher-Smith. She improved on her season's best in the semi-final to make the August 6 final.

Ofili shared a heartwarming embrace with Alfred after the race, perhaps a clear sign of vindication that she still has a chance to win a medal despite the 100m debacle.

Who will Ofili face in the 200m final?

The women's 200m field will comprise of Ofili, Thomas, Alfred, Brittany Brown, Daryll Neita, Jessika Gbai, Asher-Smith and Mckenzie Long.

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Lyles aims to break Van Niekerk's world record after losing to Tebogo in 200m

Nigerians anticipate Tobi Amusan

Legit.ng earlier reported that Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the Women's 100mH, is set to begin her quest for a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The 26-year-old heads into her third Olympics as one of the favourites in a heavily-stacked field. She set the current world record of 12.12 seconds in 2022.

Amusan will appear on Wednesday morning, August 7, during the first round of the Women's 100mH.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Martin Moses avatar

Martin Moses Martin Moses is a journalist from the Multimedia University of Kenya (2021). He has practised sports journalism for over five years. He launched his career in media at MMU radio (February 2018-June 2021). Martin also interviewed distinguished sports personalities while at Sports 360 (2020-2022) before joining Sports Brief in April 2022. You can reach out at martin.moses@sportsbrief.com

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