How Nigeria missed out on a potential Olympic silver

When Annette Echikunwoke, draped in an American flag, celebrated her silver medal in the women’s hammer throw at Paris 2024 there was a feeling of vindication mixed in with the history she had made.

But for those watching in Nigeria, it was a case of what might have been.

Africa's most populous country is still waiting for its first medal at these Olympic Games, and Echikunwoke could have been competing in green and white but for an administrative oversight by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

Instead, the 28-year-old became the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in the hammer.

"I am so glad to be able to have what I experienced here in Paris and to be able to come away with a medal,” she said.

"Being with the US, feeling cared for as an athlete, I really performed on top of my game."

So how did Nigeria miss out on her place on the podium?

Sliding doors in Tokyo

Echikunwoke, who was born in Ohio and holds dual American-Nigerian citizenship, was set to represent the country of her parents at Tokyo 2020.

She had broken the African record in qualification - on what was her first trip to Nigeria - but was ruled ineligible to compete after arriving in the Japanese capital.

She was not alone, as the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) ruled that 10 Nigerian athletes were unable to take part because of non-compliance with out-of-competition drug testing requirements in the run-up to the Games.

For Echikunwoke the sense of shock was akin to a "fever dream".

"On my 25th birthday, I was officially informed that I cannot compete at the Tokyo Olympics due to the negligence of the federation I was set to compete for," she said in a message posted on Instagram.

"I can’t even begin to explain how heartbroken I am.

"This has been the most mentally and emotionally exhausting time of my life."

The AFN had failed to comply with a rule which requires athletes to undergo three out-of-competition tests within a 10-month period before a major event.

Echikunwoke said she had provided her whereabouts to the AFN six times in that timeframe, but no-one came to test her in the USA.

"The AFN bears responsibility for any lapses that may have occurred during the process," a statement by the organisation said.

"A few athletes in the American collegiate system were tested, but those tests were deemed not to have complied with World Anti-Doping Agency sample collection and analysis standards."

But, for Echikunwoke, the possibility of representing Nigeria was over.

Chasing the American dream

Instead, she decided that her future was with the country of her birth.

Echikunwoke made her debut at the World Championships in Eugene in 2022, finishing 12th in the final.

She was a surprise winner of the 2024 US Olympic trials, throwing a season’s best of 74.86m.

She bettered that in the Stade de France on Tuesday evening as her mark of 75.48m placed her behind Canada’s Camryn Rogers.

"I felt pretty secure coming into the competition. It's an opportunity of a lifetime," Echikunwoke said.

"It's electric - just being on the US team, being in the final, coming into the stadium and hearing everyone [be] so loud.

"[To be] the first woman to medal (in hammer throw) for the US, it's really an honour.

"It's really a vindication. I wanted the experience."

Today, Echikunwoke stands proud, having moved on from the chapter of her career where she could have competed under the flag of Nigeria.

"I knew there was always more, even from that time," she said.

"I've forgiven the past and we just move forward."

A representative of Nigeria’s sports minister would not be drawn on her success.

"We are focusing on our own athletes now, not the one that has gone to represent [an]other country," the spokesperson told BBC Sport Africa.

The AFN did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment on Echikunwoke’s silver medal.

The reaction in Nigeria

While Echikunwoke targets further major honours and more celebrations with the Stars and Stripes, Nigeria is still waiting to get onto the medal table in Paris.

There were congratulations for Echikunwoke from Nigerians on social media – but plenty also voiced criticism towards the country's sporting authorities.

“Disqualified from Tokyo due to senseless clerical error of the AFN,” one user posted on X.

“Representing America in 2024. Talent nurtured to the fullest. Silver medallist.”

Another added: “Don’t let Nigeria kill your dream if you have the opportunity to make it elsewhere. Annette Nneka Echikunwoke fought for her destiny.”

Her case of being unable to compete for Nigeria is not an isolated one.

Sprinter Favour Ofili - another of those who missed out in Tokyo because of the AFN’s oversight on testing - was denied the chance to run in the women’s 100m in the French capital because she was not registered for the event.

Both Nigerian officials and governing body World Athletics denied responsibility for the oversight.

Ofili then finished 6th in the final of the 200m on Tuesday, and the emotions of missing out on a place on the podium was such that she was unable to speak to reporters after her race.

But Nigeria's women do still offer potential medals before the end of the Games.

Ese Brume, a bronze medallist in Tokyo, finished fourth in long jump qualification, while compatriots Ruth Usoro and Prestina Ochonogor will also bid for glory in the final Thursday

Meanwhile, Tobi Amusan qualified fastest for the semi-finals of the women’s 100m hurdles on Friday morning.

Echikunwoke said she may celebrate her Olympic silver by eating sour candy, a treat she rarely enjoys while training.

Nigeria’s athletes now have just four full days of competition to avoid being left with a sour taste of their own, as they look on enviously at someone who could have been a team-mate but for an administrative oversight.