Sports
Tobi Amusan And Ezekiel Nathaniel Qualify For 2024 Summer Olympics
Nigerian track and field stars, Tobi Amusan and Ezekiel Nathaniel have qualified to represent the country in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Amusan who is a former world champion in the 100-meter hurdle and Nathaniel, a 400-meter hurdler, earned themselves a place in the Summer Olympics due to their performance in the last couple of months.
Recall that the qualification process for athletics wishing to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics was released by World Athletics last December along with the requirements for athletes.
Based on the requirements, Amusan was the first Nigerian athlete to earn a spot in the tournament. She finished the 100-meter hurdles on July 2 at the BAUHAUS-Galan Diamond League tournament in Stockholm, Sweden in 12.52 seconds. The 100-meter hurdles qualifying time was 12.77 seconds.
The 26-year-old has improved since then, recording a season-best time of 12.34 seconds on July 16 at the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Diamond League competition in Chorzów, Poland.
Nathaniel, the 400-meter hurdles world record holder for Nigeria (48.42 seconds), had to race in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, to be eligible for his first-ever Olympics.
The 20-year-old’s time of 48.47 seconds was faster than the admission barrier of 48.70 seconds.
At the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, long jumper Ese Brume almost made it to the Olympics in Paris. Just two centimeters separated her from earning an Olympic spot with her jump of 6.84 meters, which put her in fourth place in the final. However, she still has a chance to surpass the 6.86m requirement necessary to qualify for the tournament.
Her next chance will come in the Diamond League final, which is scheduled for September 16–17 in Oregon, USA.
The 2024 Summer Olympics will commence on 26 July 2024 and end on 11 August 2024.
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili made a spectacular debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, delivering an impressive performance in the women’s 200m event.
After a disappointing setback in the women’s 100m, Ofili showcased her resilience by clinching victory in her heat with a new season’s best time of 22.24 seconds on Sunday, August 4. The victory has qualified her for the 2024 Olympics 200m women’s semi-finals which will take place this evening.
Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, has stressed that he doesn’t care how much movement he makes in a game as people continue to take note of his walking technique.
In recent times, videos of Lionel Messi practically walking while his team are off the ball have kept many football enthusiasts talking. Many believe that it is a technique to prevent being injured, some say he does that because other players are doing the hard work for him.
But in an interview with Clank Media, Lionel Messi who turned 37-year-old earlier today, June 24, 2024, said not running when he is off the ball has been a part of his game from his days at his boyhood club, Newell, in his native country, Argentina.
“When I was at Newell’s, there were two or three times a week we were sent to run around the grounds. I used to hide behind a tree. Running without a ball was never my thing. Heh”, Lionel Messi said.
“I have always been very self-critical. I am the first to know what I do right and what I do wrong. When I walk, I analyse the opponent’s positioning, how we stand when we don’t have the ball, get away from the marker and be able to initiate a counterattack.
“I don’t pay much attention to GPS, statistics or data. I never cared how much I ran in a match.”
Note that Lionel Messi had used his walking technique while off the ball to win virtually everything in world football including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League, one FIFA World Cup, and a record 8 Ballon d’Or.
In just two matchdays in the ongoing European Championship (Euro 2024), three countries have secured their place in the tournament’s round of 16.
Interestingly, the Three Lions of England and France, seen as the Super favourites to win the Euro 2024, will have to wait until the last day of the group stage to confirm their place.
Earlier today, June 22, 2024, Portugal’s national team, ably led by five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, defeated Turkey 3-0 to book themselves a place in the round of 16.
Goals from Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and an own goal from Samet Akaydin made all the difference.
Ronaldo provided an assist for Portugal’s third goal, which was his 7th in the history of the tournament, and the all-time highest in the European Championship.
Recall that Portugal defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening game in Group F. Hence, the Portuguese side now have 6 points in two games.
Whether or not they beat Georgia in their last group stage game on Wednesday, June 26, the Portuguese side will play in the round of 16. However, they need to win the game to ensure they finish top of Group F.
Other two teams that have already booked themselves a place in the Euro 2024 round of 16 with a game in hand are the hosts, Germany, and Spain.
Germany are topping Group A with 6 points in 2 games, while Spain are topping Group B with 6 points in two games.
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