Divine Bamgboye says she is fully focused on winning gold for Nigeria in the women’s 100m hurdles at the ongoing CAA African U-18/U-20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta, adding that she dreams of following in the footsteps of world record holder and compatriot Tobi Amusan.
The rising star in Nigeria’s U-20 sprint hurdles scene will line up in the final of the women’s 100m hurdles event on Friday evening.
Competing for the first time at a major international championship, the US-based hurdler admitted that the level of competition has been high but motivating.
“Everybody here is really good. The Nigerian team is very fast. It’s been a great experience,” she said.
“My aim is to win gold for Nigeria. That’s what I came here for.”
For Bamgboye, winning gold on home soil would not just be a personal triumph but a moment of national pride, especially given the heritage of Nigerian hurdlers. She hails from Ogun State, the same state as Amusan, the reigning world champion and record holder in the event.
When asked about that connection, Bamgboye did not shy away from the pressure, saying it pushes her to perform better.
“Yes, there’s pressure, but it motivates me more than anything. Tobi Amusan is from my state, and she’s a big inspiration. I haven’t met her personally, but she’s so beautiful and graceful on the track,” she said.
“I want to take her record one day. That’s my dream.”
While many of the country’s athletes have raised concerns over logistics and coordination, Bamgboye was full of praise for the event organisers and Nigeria’s technical officials.
“I think they’re doing a good job. Personally, I haven’t had any issues. The Nigerian team has been friendly and nice to me. I get along with everyone,” she said.
The African U18/U20 Championships, which is being jointly hosted by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) and the Nigerian Sports Commission (NSC), have seen a strong showing from Team Nigeria so far.
