Nigeria’s participation in the recently concluded Paris Olympics may have ended in disastrous and shameful circumstances as Team Nigeria did not manage to win a single medal despite a reported N9 billion spent on the entourage of around 87 athletes.

The Paris Olympics has been described by many sports enthusiasts as as one of the country’s worst outings in recent years as some less populated African nations like Botswana, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, etc., ended up winning medals while the famed giant of Africa ended the games empty-handed.

However, it was not entirely gloom and doom for the country as some athletes of Nigerian descent who competed for other countries at the Olympics had podium finishes.

In this piece, Africanewswatch.com takes a look at 12 athletes of Nigerian descent who won medals for their adopted countries at the Paris 2024 Olympics in France.

1. Yemisi Ogunleye

Yemisi Ogunleye won a gold medal in the women’s shot put event at the Paris Olympics with a record breaking throw of 20.0m to claim the prestigious prize.

Yemisi who competed in the colours of Germany, was born tl a Nigerian father from Ekiti State and a German mother.

2. Salwa Eid Naser

Salwa Eid Naser who a silver medal in the women’s 400m event for Bahrain is a naturalized Bahranian who was actually born in Anambra State as Ebelechukwu Antoinette Agbapuonwu before converting to Islam and switched nationality to the Asian country in 2014.

3. Samu Omorodion

Samu Omorodion played a part in the Spanish U-23 side’s run to the gold medal where they defeated France 3-1 in the final match.

The 20-years-old Omorodion who is still eligible to play for Nigeria, scored in Spain’s 2-1 loss to Egypt in the group stage and feelers have it that the Nigerian football authorities are still hopeful of getting the exciting forward to play for the country of his parents.

4. Michael Olise

Michael Olise was an integral part of France’s team that lost to the Spaniards in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics.

The new Bayern Munich midfielder has a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother and before settling for the French team, was courted by Nigeria and Algeria.

Olise who was born in England, could also have played for the Three Lions but chose to settle for France. The youngster scored two goals and had five assists in six matches for Thierry Henry’s side at the Olympics, earning him rave reviews.

5. Annette Echikunwoke

Annette Echikunwoke who was born to Nigerian parents in Ohio, USA, was supposed to feature for Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Games but was ruled ineligible for the competition which prompted her to switch nationality to the US and ended up winning silver for America in the hammer throw event in Paris, the first medal in that sport for the US.

6. Victoria Ohuruogu

Victoria Ohuruogu was another athlete of Nigerian descent who was part of Great Britain’s quartet that won bronze in the women’s 4x400m relay.

The 31-year-old Victoria who was born in London to Nigerian parents, is the younger sister of Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu.

7. Yemi Mary John

Another athlete of Nigerian origin, Yemi Mary John was also a member of the British relay team, playing a significant role in their bronze medal finish.

8. Eziyoda Magbegor

The Seattle Storm player who was born in 1999, led Australia to a bronze medal finish in the women’s basketball event at the Paris Olympics.

Magbegor scored 30 points as the Opals defeated Belgium to claim third.

Eziyoda is also a two-time World Cup medallist, WNBL, WNBA, and Hungarian Cup winner. The basketball player was born to Nigerian parents in New Zealand before moving to Australia at age 6 with her family.

9. Barthélémy Chinenyeze

On the volleyball court, Barthélémy was a gold medal winner with France at the just-ended Olympics, playing as a middle blocker.

Barthélémy who was born in 1998 to a Nigerian father and a French mother, was always outstanding as the French team stormed to the gold medal.

10. Chiaka Ogbogu

In the female event of volleyball, 29-year-old Chiaka helped the US to win the silver medal at the Paris Games, adding to the gold medal the team won in Tokyo 2020.

Chiaka was born to Nigerian-American parents in Texas, USA, and has been an integral part of the US National Volleyball team for many years.

11. Omoruyi Loveth

Omoruyi Loveth is also of Nigerian descent and was part of the Italian volleyball team that defeated the USA to win the gold medal in the event.

12. Bam Adebayo

For followers the NBA, Bam Adebayo is no strange face or name and was part of the USA male basketball team that swept all opponents to win its fifth straight Olympics title.

Born Edrice Femi Adebayo, to a Nigerian father and an American mother, the Miami Heat star played a key role for the Dream Team as they blew away all opponents to the gold medal.