Kolade Otunla delivered a stellar performance to win gold in the men’s 100 metres backstroke, setting a new festival record for Ogun State at the ongoing National Sports Festival.
Otunla stormed to victory at the Swimming Pool Arena of the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, clocking a time of 1 minute 32.41 seconds.
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His time shattered the previous record of 1 minute 34.61 seconds set by Eberakumo Gino of Rivers State in 2018.
The new record is, however, subject to ratification by the relevant sports authorities.
The triumph marks a second gold medal in swimming for Ogun State at the festival, which officially kicked off today.
Earlier in the day, Tobilola secured the state’s first gold in the women’s 800 metres freestyle event, setting a strong tone for Ogun’s swimming contingent.
Otunla’s performance, along with Tobilola’s earlier win, signals the emergence of a new wave of swimming talent in Nigeria.
As the nation looks to build a stronger presence in aquatic sports both regionally and globally, the achievements of young swimmers like Otunla and Tobilola are a promising sign.
Their breakthroughs at the national level could mark the beginning of a new era for Nigeria’s swimming program, which has long sought fresh stars to carry its hopes on the international stage.
Swimming observers and coaches have praised the growing depth of talent on display at this year’s festival, noting that with proper investment and development, Nigeria could soon become a major force in African swimming.
