A recent string of victories, including a dramatic gold medal in cycling, has ignited a competitive fire within Team Nigeria at the inaugural African School Games in Annaba, Algeria.
The success has created a “gold rush” mentality among the athletes, inspiring them to intensify their own medal quests.
On Friday afternoon, rising cycling star Grace Osaretin Godwin secured a thrilling victory in the Road Race. Her race, finished in a time of 1:37:02 seconds holding off a strong challenge from two Algerian riders, Chenouni and Zehnouki Yousro, who took silver (1:37:06) and bronze (1:38:42) respectively.
Despite their attempts to overtake her, 0saretin held her lead to the finish line. Joel Akinluwa, Secretary-General of the Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF), was ecstatic after the race.
“I am thrilled that a rising star like Grace has lived up to expectations,” he said, adding, “I endeavoured to convince the authorities that she could become Nigeria’s hope in upcoming competitions, including the ANOCA Youth Games in Angola and next year’s Youth Olympics in Senegal.”
Akinluwa added that he was so interested in her success that the victory restored his appetite, humorously ending a “temporary hunger strike” he had undertaken to pray for a positive outcome.
Osaretin’s gold is the latest in a growing medal haul for Team Nigeria. The winning streak was kickstarted by the badminton team, which secured two gold medals, and the 3×3 Basketball team, which has already claimed three gold medals and one silver.
The series of wins has transformed the atmosphere in the Nigerian camp, with celebratory songs now filling the air as athletes from all nine sports are newly motivated in their pursuit of gold.
