Julius Okorie
Nigeria’s Rosemary Chukwuma will do the race of her life Saturday (today ) 3rd August 2024 in the semifinals of the women’s 100m of the ongoing Olympics in Paris.
Chukwuma, who is a lone ranger in that category after compatriot Tina Godbless failed to qualify during the heats decided Friday, will be up against tough opponents that include reigning world champion, Sha’Carri Richardson, five-time world champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, one-time Diamond League winner, Julien Alfred, and African Games champion Gina Bass-Bittaye in the second semi-final at the Stade de France.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelOnly two athletes will progress to the final also billed for Saturday, which makes the contest survival of the fittest and the fastest.
Chukwuma, who has a season best 10.88s in the event, secured her spot in the semis on Friday with an automatic qualification time of 11.01s, placing third in Heat 5 behind Poland’s Ewa Swoboda (10.99s) and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (11.01s).
The 22-year-old will no doubt be running, praying and hoping that her legs move fast enough to jump today’s hurdle and set her on the part to medal reach.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Chukwuma Into 100m Semis, Tima Godbless Out
Aside from those in Chukwuma’s group, other contenders for spots in the final in Paris include Marie-Josée Ta Lou of Ivory Coast, who posted a season’s best and the fastest qualifying time of 10.87s in the heats, Great Britain’s Daryll Neita (10.92) SB, and Jamaica’s Tia Clayton (11.00s).
The nation will have to prepare her mind for whatever result she gets from this year’s Olympics, with no sign of a medal yet. Controversy over the failure of AFN and NOC to field Favour Ofili for the 100m event meant only two athletes represented Nigeria in the event where one qualified and the other failed to qualify.
The weight thus rests on Chukwuma’s shoulders, while the brouhaha between AFN/NOC and Ofili rages, even as the Sports Minister, Senator John Enoh, has threatened to deal with those who rubbished the nation’s chance of doing the needful via ineptitude.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
