Okezie Sends Warning to Paris Olympics Competitors
Nigerian sprinter Chidi Okezie is optimistic that the men's 4x400m and mixed relay teams will be strong podium contenders at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This follows their impressive performance at the World Relays in the Bahamas, where they secured their Olympic qualifications.
Okezie played a key role in securing Olympic qualification for both events, delivering back-to-back stellar performances that secured the mixed 4x400m and men's 4x400m relay spots for Nigeria at the Games.
The 30-year-old, along with Dubem Nwachukwu, Dubem Amene, and Sikiru Adeyemi, clocked a time of 3:01.70 in the men's 4x400m, marking the fastest time by a Nigerian male 4x400m team since the bronze-winning quartet of James Godday, Musa Audu, Saul Weigopwa, and Enefiok Udo-Obong ran 3:00.90 at the Athens 2004 Olympics.
In the mixed relay, Okezie, Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, and Esther Joseph set a new African record and a national record with a time of 3:12.87. The previous record of 3:13.26 was set by Emmanuel Ojeli, Patience Okon-George, Sikiru Adeyemi, and Omolara Ogunmakinju at the 2023 African Games in Ghana.
"Felt great to break an African record," said Okezie, who was drafted into the mixed relay team, in an interview with Making of Champions.
"If we have our legs and everyone who's capable of running does, we will be a threat in Paris," he added.
Okezie, who claimed his first gold for Nigeria at the African Games, also discussed taking on the responsibility of running in both events in the Bahamas, as the contingent faced visa-related issues.
"Qualifying in two relays is something I can't quite put into words," he said.
"I'm a strength-speed 400m runner, so when we got here and some of our guys had visa issues, I knew I had to step up and deliver what the team needed."
Since he began representing Nigeria in 2016, Okezie hadn't won a gold medal for the country until the 2023 African Games in Ghana, where he set a personal best of 45.06s, the fastest time by a Nigerian athlete in that discipline in nine years.
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