5 Days to Go: From Festival Glory to Olympic Stage – 5 Athletes Who Rose from the National Sports Festival to Global Stardom (Part 1)

As the countdown hits five days to the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged the ‘2024 Gateway Games’, anticipation is building across Nigeria. Set to be hosted by Ogun State, the Festival remains a fertile ground for discovering future champions and unearthing raw talent destined for global greatness.

Over the years, the National Sports Festival has served as the launchpad for some of Nigeria’s most celebrated athletes; those who moved from local fame to Olympic immortality.
As we gear up for another historic edition, we take a look back at some iconic names who were first spotted on this national stage before ascending to global prominence.

Mary Onyali: The Queen of the Track

Mary Onyali, one of Nigeria’s most decorated sprinters, was first discovered at the National Sports Festival when she competed at the 1984 Kwara ’85 Games and later the 1997 Oluyole Games in Ibadan. Her dazzling performances earned her a spot at the 1986 World Junior Championships in Athens, Greece; a springboard to a remarkable international career.

By 1988, Onyali was part of Nigeria’s contingent to the Seoul Olympic Games, marking the beginning of a storied Olympic journey. She went on to represent Nigeria at five Olympic Games—Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004—an extraordinary feat in Nigerian athletics.
She won two Olympic bronze medals: one in the 4x100m relay in 1992 and another in the 200m at the 1996 Games, solidifying her status as a national icon.

Falilat Ogunkoya: Breaking Barriers on the Track

Born in Ogun State, the host state of the 2024 Gateway Games, Falilat Ogunkoya rose to prominence through the National Sports Festival before gaining international attention at the 1986 World Junior Championships. With grace and grit, she stormed through the ranks, becoming a dominant force in African and global sprinting.

Her crowning moment came at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, where she made history as the first Nigerian woman to win an individual Olympic track medal, clinching the bronze in the 400m. Her time of 49.10 seconds remains one of the fastest ever by an African woman, a record that stood for years and still commands global respect.

Deji Aliu: Power and Precision on the Track

Known for his explosive speed and consistency, Deji Aliu is another exceptional product of the National Sports Festival. After catching the nation’s eye with his performances at the Festival, Aliu earned his stripes on the international circuit.

A multiple-time African champion and World Cup medalist, he reached the pinnacle of his career at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, where he ran the third leg for Nigeria’s 4x100m relay team that won the bronze medal. His contributions helped solidify Nigeria’s reputation as a sprinting powerhouse on the global stage.

Chika Chukwumerije: “The Emperor, Conqueror, the Champion, the Lion is here”

From a modest beginning at the National Sports Festival to the pinnacle of Olympic achievement, Chika Chukwumerije first rose to national prominence by winning gold in Taekwondo at the 2002 National Sports Festival in Benin, Edo State. From that breakthrough, Chika went on to represent Nigeria at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, making history at the latter as the first person from Sub-Saharan Africa to win an Olympic medal in Taekwondo, earning a bronze.

Domestically, he was a force to be reckoned with, undefeated nationally for nine years, and held the title of Nigerian National Champion for many years. At the university level, he made history by medaling in three consecutive Nigerian University Games (NUGA): bronze at ABU 2000, gold at NUGA 2002, and gold at NUGA 2004. He became only the second male athlete to successfully defend his NUGA gold medal in Taekwondo, joining the elite class of university athletes with podium finishes in three successive Games.

In January 2012, Chukwumerije achieved yet another milestone by qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games, becoming the first African Taekwondo athlete to compete at three Olympic Games. His journey from the local mats of Benin City to the global stage is not just a personal triumph, it’s an enduring legacy of what the National Sports Festival can inspire and ignite.

Yusuf Alli: Jumping into the History Books

A legend in Nigeria’s long jump history, Yusuf Alli began his journey to greatness at the National Sports Festival before making his first Olympic appearance in 1980 at the Moscow Games. He would go on to represent Nigeria at two more Olympics—Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988—cementing his legacy as one of Africa’s finest long jumpers.

During his collegiate career in the United States, Alli competed for the University of Missouri, where he remains a record-holder. His indoor and outdoor long jump records, set in 1984 and 1983 respectively, still stand as school benchmarks—over four decades later. His incredible leap from the National Sports Festival to the world stage embodies the spirit of resilience and excellence.

Who Will Be the Next Superstars

Nigeria now stands at the edge of another defining moment. As the 2024 Gateway Games draw near, the search is on for the next generation of superstars—young athletes with raw talent, untamed ambition, and the hunger to succeed. Somewhere in the crowd, a teenager will step onto the track, field, mat, or court and dazzle the nation.

A new Mary Onyali may explode from the blocks. Another Chika Chukwumerije could rise from the combat arenas. A future Yusuf Alli may take flight in the long jump pit. The National Sports Festival is not just a competition; it is a proving ground. It is where greatness is born. Nigeria awaits.
With hope, pride, and anticipation, the unearthing of the next sporting icon who will carry the nation’s flag on the global stage and etch their name in the annals of history.

Watch out for the second part of this series on incredible rise of superstar athletes from the National Sports Festival.