Olympic silver medallist Blessing Oborududu is set to retire from wrestling at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State, the Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF) has announced.
The 36-year-old will make her final competitive appearance at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic Centre in Ikenne—one of the key venues for the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival.
While wrestling events officially began on Monday with the Greco-Roman category, Oborududu and her female colleagues will begin their medal quests today (Tuesday).
In a symbolic full-circle moment, Oborududu will bow out from the sport at the same event where her journey began—her debut appearance was at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta during the Gateway Games in 2006.
“A legend will be saying goodbye to a sport she has contributed immensely to grow through her dedication, passion, and achievements,” the NWF stated on Monday.
“Her name resonates throughout Africa and beyond, evoking strong emotional responses from fans, the Nigerian people, and well-wishers. The name Blessing Oborududu is leaving a memorable and significant history with an inherent sound that would be easily recalled and remembered.”
After losing at the 2006 Gateway Games as an amateur, Oborududu went on to dominate the National Sports Festival, clinching gold at every edition she competed in: Kaduna 2009, Rivers 2011, Lagos 2012, Abuja 2018, Edo 2021, and Delta 2022.
A 12-time African champion, Oborududu made history as the first Nigerian wrestler to win an Olympic medal. She claimed a silver medal in the women’s freestyle 68kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, falling 4-1 in the final to Team USA’s Tamyra Stock-Mensah.
