How will Nigeria fare in the 2008 Olympics? It will have its “best outing” ever according to a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye.
What’s the basis of his optimism? Apparently, it’s the way the country’s National Sports Commission (NSC) has been preparing its athletes.
For the record, Nigeria registered its best Olympic performance during the 1996 Atlanta Olympiad where it bagged two gold medals courtesy of the men’s football team and Chioma Ajunwa who ruled the women’s long jump.
During the 2004 Olympics, Nigeria brought home two bronze medals courtesy of the men’s 4 x 100 meter relay team of Olusoji Fasuba, Uchenna Emedolu, Aaron Egbele, Deji Aliu who placed third in the and the 4 x 400 relay team composed of James Godday, Musa Audu, Saul Weigopwa, Enefiok Udo-Obong.
To date, Nigeria has won a total of 19 Olympic medals (2 gold, 8 silver, and 9 bronze) since it joined the Olympics during the 1952 Helsinki Olympiad.
