Skip to main content

Okagbare Wants To Be Like Bolt

By

Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare who is competing in three individul events in Moscow. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Nigeria's superwoman, meet Jamaica's superman. Triple threat Blessing Okagbare, here to compete in the long jump, 100 and 200 metres, is drawing favourable comparisons to sprint sensation Usain Bolt at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics (WCA).
She likes it.
"A lot of people have been, maybe, saying that," Okagbare said, laughing on August 15. "If they say that, then it's an honour.
"Usain Bolt is a great athlete, an extremely talented athlete, and for some people to say you actually have, maybe you're even close to the talent he has, is a great honour for me."
Like Bolt, Okagbare carries an impressive physical frame when compared to most of her competitors - 5' 11" tall and weighing 150 pounds. Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, gold medallist in the 100 metres here, is listed at 5' 0", 110 pounds. Bolt competes in multiple events as well - the 100m and 200m - and has toyed with the idea of doing the long jump.
Okagbare has yet to come close to Bolt's World record-breaking accomplishments in any of her events, but she has accepted comparisons to the Jamaican star as a challenge to improve to the point where - like him - she can win gold medals at global championships like the WCA.
"I am actually working my way to get there," Okagbare said, "to be like the Usain Bolt."
She's no slouch either. Here, in her first attempt at three individual events at a global meet, Okagbare is reaping some success. The 2008 Olympic long jump bronze medalist placed second in the event at the WCA with a leap of 6.99 metres, after taking seven jumps total. She also clocked 11.04 seconds to finish sixth in the 100 meters final, after running a heat and semi-final in the event.
Okagbare, a world-class triple jumper, is also in the August 16 final of the 200 metres after coasting to the second-fastest time in the semis. But, even after that, her work won't be done as she is expected to be part of Nigeria's 4x100 metres relay team.
Bolt-like standards may be in the distance, but the burden Okagbare is carrying doesn't take a step back for anyone, not even Jamaica's and track's biggest star.
"Hard work, determination," said Okagbare, of handling her workload, "and just keeping my focus." 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A MASON IN NIGERIA

By
 After all i have said about this fraternity if you are still interested in becoming a mason there are just simply ways in which you can do that, but inspite of my post i am neither encouraging nor discouraging you all i am doing is just to let you know more about this frat and there's more to come about those who have joined, the so called stars like jay-z, kanye west etc i guess its just 7 simple ways to join and off you go  Are there things you want to accomplish in your life? Are there ways you want to enrich yourself? Do you enjoy being with people you like and respect? As a Freemason, you’ll find friendship and fraternity. You’ll develop life skills like self-confidence, leadership, and effective communication. You’ll learn to work as part of a team  and to better yourself as you help others. Think about taking the first step into becoming a Mason. It is widely thought that one must be invited to become a Freemason or that Freemasonry is so exclusive as to be b...
240 comments
Read more

President Goodluck Jonathan Sets-Up Amnesty Committee For Boko-Haram

By
President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the constitution of a Presidential Committee to "constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the country." Announcing the setting up of the committee, a statement by Dr Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity stated that the committee's terms of reference will include: -Developing a framework for the granting of amnesty -Setting up of a framework through which disarmament could take place within a 60-day time frame -Development of a comprehensive victims' support programme -Development of mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies that will help to prevent future occurrences. The committee is made up of the following Nigerians: Committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the north 1.Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Minister of Special Duties - Chairman 2....
Post a Comment
Read more