Wrestling legend Blessing Oborududu bows out with Gold at National Sports Festival

Nigerian wrestling great, Blessing Oborududu, has officially drawn the curtain on an illustrious 19-year career, ending it on a high by clinching a gold medal for Bayelsa State at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun.

Oborududu, who made her debut at the same competition in 2006 as a teenage prodigy, delivered a commanding final performance, securing victory in what became an emotional farewell witnessed by fans, officials, and fellow athletes.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist and 14-time African champion expressed heartfelt appreciation to those who supported her career journey, including the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, her coaches, teammates, and family.

Looking back, Oborududu identified her Olympic silver as the highlight of her career, noting its significance as the first Olympic wrestling medal won by an African woman — a feat that etched her name in history.

President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation and Bayelsa State’s Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, described the moment as bittersweet. He hailed Oborududu not just as a phenomenal athlete, but as a role model whose mentorship shaped the careers of many younger wrestlers who trained under her watchful eye.

Her longtime teammate, Hannah Reuben, also paid tribute, lauding Oborududu’s influence both on and off the mat.

The festival marks the end of an era in Nigerian wrestling, with Oborududu leaving behind a legacy of resilience, discipline, and sporting excellence.