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Blessing Okagbare at 37: From sprint glory to joys of motherhood

On Thursday, former sprint queen Blessing Okagbare marked what she calls her “Best Birthday Ever” – her 37th birthday celebrated with her first child, Oreofe.

Okagbare shared heartwarming photos of them in matching outfits as she reflected on gratitude: “Lord, you have always done it for me.” For someone who has carried Nigeria’s hopes on countless international stages, this moment holds so dear to her. She now celebrates not only years lived, but also motherhood.

Athletics highs and the queenship of the track

Blessing’s athletic achievements are many and remarkable. Born on October 9, 1988, she rose to international fame through her blend of speed, power, and versatility. She not only found success in the sprints but also in the long jump.

Blessing Okagbare celebrates 37th birthday with new child Oreofe. (Image: Facebook)

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Some of her crowning moments:

  1. 2008 Olympics silver in the long jump (Beijing) when she was just 19.
  1. Dominant performances in the 2010 African Championships: gold in both the long jump and 100m.
  1. Setting the African record in the 200m, running 22.04 seconds in 2018.
  1. Holding the Commonwealth Games record in the women’s 100m (10.85s) and staying among Africa’s fastest through much of the 2010s.


The shadow of a scandal

No life of brilliance is without its shadows. In 2022, Blessing Okagbare was handed a 10-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for multiple anti-doping violations—specifically, for prohibited substances and also for refusing to cooperate with the investigation.

A new chapter

Now, celebrating motherhood and years beyond her peak competitive years, Blessing appears focused on peace and presence. While her name is forever written among Nigeria’s greats in track and field, the gratitude she expresses today speaks to fact that there is life outside the track and that life can also bring fulfillment.

Ayomikun Elemikan
Ayomikun Elemikan
Ayomikun Elemikan is a sports editor at NRTC who writes about and analyses interesting topics in the world of sports. He has over five years of experience writing and talking about sports. He has appeared as a guest sports analyst on notable national media platforms like Channels Television and Core TV News. He has an England FA certification in Talent Identification and Scouting.

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