The Nigeria Junior Swim Team wrapped up their campaign at the 16th Africa Junior Swimming Championships in Egypt on a remarkable note, securing three gold medals and one bronze—all courtesy of teenage sensation Abduljabal Adama.
Adama delivered a historic performance, smashing records and making headlines. He dominated the 50 meters butterfly event, breaking the championship record twice—first clocking 24.19 seconds in the heats, then improving to 23.89 seconds in the final to claim gold.
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He further etched his name in the record books in the 50 meters freestyle, setting a new African record of 22.24 seconds, beating the previous mark of 22.65 seconds.
Adama added a third gold in the 100 meters freestyle with a time of 26.64 seconds. Though it didn’t surpass the existing record or his personal best, it was enough to top the podium. He also claimed a bronze medal in the 100 meters butterfly, rounding off a stellar medal haul.
Another Nigerian swimmer, Kashope Obatoyinbo, also impressed, finishing sixth in the 50 meters freestyle final and setting a personal best of 23.92 seconds, although he didn’t medal.
Adama’s outstanding performance earned him the Best Male Swimmer of the Tournament award. He was notably the only athlete from a Black African country to make the podium in the championship.
President of the Aquatic Federation of Nigeria, Chinonye Daphey Aliyu, expressed immense pride in the team’s achievements. “We are so proud of these results. This is the best thing to happen to Nigerian swimming in 33 years, surpassing even our bronze at the Africa Games,” she said.
She also appreciated the National Sports Commission for its support and reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to improving swimming in Nigeria. Aliyu promised an even stronger showing at the World Junior Championships in Romania this August and the Africa Youth Games in Angola later in December.
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