7. Sade Olatoye
The first time Nigerian Athletics fans got introduced to Sade Olatoye, it was at the 2019 African Games in Morocco; three years on and you would be forgiven to think they have known her for about 13 years. She has endeared herself to them, and there’s more to come from Olatoye who has always impressed each time she wears the Nigerian kit.
While she would readily be identified by her achievements in the Hammer Throw, she has had some good outings in the women’s Shot Put, an event she won the National title in while competing at her first National Championships in 2021.
In fact, it was the Shot Put event that Olatoye got her first officially recognized outing for Nigeria, competing at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. She came very close to making the final of the event, missing out by just a place.
For the first time in her career, Olatoye became an African champion, winning GOLD for Nigeria in the women’s Hammer at the African Championships in Port Louis. Her triumph ensured that Nigeria retained the title in this event, following in the footsteps of Temilola Ogunrinde who won the title in 2018.
NATIONAL RECORD!!!
Sade Olatoye has broken the Nigerian National Record (NR) in the Hammer Throw, landing a 69.89m hurl to win the event at the Jesse Owens Classic and better the previous marker of 68.85m by Temilola Ogunrinde. pic.twitter.com/bATcoHHL0M
— Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) May 1, 2021
This season, Olatoye focused solely on the Hammer, and it’s quite evident how it has worked out for her in 2022. She won her first National title in this event and qualified for her second consecutive World Championships. Although the outing may not have gone the way she would have wanted, she wouldn’t be too worried as she came close again to making the final after finishing 13th overall.
Competing at her first Commonwealth Games, Olatoye marginally missed out on the podium, finishing 4th with a mark of 66.80m. That was her biggest throw of the year, and what time to land that than on her last outing in 2022.
At the moment, Olatoye is the only African athlete who has thrown a mark over 69m. In fact, she is on the cusp of a 70m throw, and if she finds her 69m form, hitting her PB of 69.89m and beyond, it will come in handy for Nigeria at major championships.
Nigeria hasn’t really had marquee female throwers in the last decade, and it is assuaging seeing the potentials Olatoye possesses. She could easily switch between Hammer Throw and Shot Put, and still be a contender.
