Gateway Games: 13-Year-Old Tofunmi Ibidapo Helps Oyo State Win Its First Swimming Medal in Seven Years

Tofunmi Ibidapo, a 13-year-old swimmer, has ended a seven-year medal drought for Oyo State in swimming events at the National Sports Festival.
She achieved this by winning a silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke event Thursday at the ongoing Gateway Games, held at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.

Oyo State recorded any category of medal last in a swimming event since the 19th National Sports Festival took place in Abuja in 2018.

The young swimmer delivered a commanding performance, with stiff competition from perennial contenders Delta and Bayelsa states, as Tofunmi Ibidapo finished second comfortably ahead of her more established rivals, sparking jubilant celebrations from all the spectators that came to watch the swimming event.

Speaking with journalists after the event, Tofunmi Ibidapo said she had been swimming competitively since she was seven years old and she had taken part in the National Youth Games, where she won a gold medal in the 200 meters.

“I also took part in the African Swimming Championship in Egypt and the World School Championship held in the United Kingdom. I didn’t get any medal because I competed against more experienced athletes in those international meets, but it has given me more exposure and a higher level of experience,” she noted.

The junior secondary school student of Queens School Lagos, who was accompanied to the event by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ibidapo, said her ambition is to go to the Olympics to represent Nigeria and become a better swimmer in the future.

She expressed her determination to train harder and learn from her experiences, believing that each competition brings her one step closer to achieving her dream. “I want to inspire other young athletes in Nigeria to pursue their goals and never give up,” she added with a smile.

Oyo State Aquatic Association Chairman Dr. Akande Babatunde Kazeem responded by congratulating the young swimmer and expressing his happiness over the well-earned silver medal. He also urged other swimmers to put in twice as much effort in their pursuit of additional medals, stating that their efforts will not be in vain.
Swimming would undoubtedly continue to bring Oyo more medals, he said, thanking the coaches and the Oyo State Sports Council administration for creating a fair playing field that has allowed for the development of fresh talent.