Nigerian Sprinter Blessing Okagbare Blazes Up to the 100m Semi-Finals

As our Nigerian Athletes compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games, we would be celebrating some of our stars who have worked hard, trained hard and are striving to achieve their very best.


At the World Games, they have come to test themselves in healthy competition with athletes from across the world and strive for their personal best daily.

We identify with their courage and wish them the very best as they bring glory to Nigeria. Go for Victory, Team Nigeria!

Born on the 9th of October, 1988, Blessing Okagbare is a Nigerian long and triple jumper and short sprinter.

She graduated from University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) and currently doing Nigeria proud at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Sapele-born sprinter and jumper has been Nigeria’s most consistent athlete from the last edition of the Games in Beijing, China, in 2008 and was one of the few athletes that returned to Nigeria with a medal. She won a bronze medal in the women’s long jump event.

 Blessing won her 100m heat thus securing her spot in the women’s 100m Olympics semi-finals holding at the Olympic Stadium in London. She set a personal best record finishing the race in 10.93 seconds to win her first-round heat in London. She was the second fastest of the round, coming just behind America’s Carmelita Jeter’s 10.83 seconds.

Blessing said she felt confident about the rest of the competition after her first outing, adding: “I have worked so hard to get this far and I am so happy that I am in the semifinals.

We are very proud of Blessing’s achievements so far and as she gets prepared for tonight’s run, we wish her the very best.

Source: bellanaija.com