Favour Ofili Ready For 200m Semi-finals After 100m Setback
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.
Defeating Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in Heat 6, Ofili’s season’s best of 22.24s was the second fastest time in the heats, just behind Gabby Thomas of the USA, who finished in 22.20s.
In a post-race interview with Making of Champions, 21-year-old Ofili exuded confidence as she set her sights on the gold medal, emphasizing her readiness and determination to outpace her competitors.
“Mentally, I am ready, and I am trying to be more ready regardless of what happened”, she said.
“All I know is, when I step on the track, I’m going to cross the line before anybody else. I don’t care what you ran before coming in here; we’re all the same because we’re all Olympians.”
Despite the withdrawal of Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, Ofili faces tough competition from the likes of new 100m champion Julien Alfred, Gabby Thomas, and other top athletes in her quest for a podium finish.
Following her exclusion from the women’s 100m due to registration issues, Ofili’s resilience and unwavering focus on her Olympic journey are truly commendable.
She is set to return to the track for the semifinals during the evening session of the athletics event on Monday.
