Michelle Ibidapo, a 13-year-old swimmer and student of The Grange School, Ikeja, has won Silver in the 1,500m women’s freestyle at the Ogun 2024 National Sports Festival, representing Team Oyo.
Previously discovered at the National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Michelle has progressed rapidly through the national sports system to now stand on the podium at Nigeria’s biggest multi-sport event.
Speaking with Sports247 after her victory, she reflected on her preparation and mindset: “Coming into this competition, I was focused.
I had my mind on winning a medal, even though I wasn’t sure what color. During the last lap, I reminded myself to stay focused, and by the end, it turned into gold.”
Her performance in Shagamu highlights the success of the Youth Games in talent discovery, as well as the growing opportunities for young athletes like Michelle to develop and compete at higher levels.
“What I’ve achieved today is just a start. My dream is to represent Nigeria at the Olympics one day, and I believe that with hard work, gold is possible there too,” she said.
Michelle’s rise is a signal to national sports authorities about the value of structured talent development. From her discovery in Asaba to her silver in Ogun, she’s a reminder that early support, good training, and steady motivation can build tomorrow’s champions.
