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Rabat – Salwa Eid Naser, a Nigerian-born athlete, clinched the silver medal for Bahrain in the women’s 400 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Naser crossed the finish line in 48.53 seconds, finishing behind Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who set a new Olympic record with a time of 48.17 seconds.
Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek took the bronze, while Rasheedat Adeleke, another athlete of Nigerian descent representing Ireland, placed fourth.
Following her win, Eid Naser said winning the olympic medal was a “dream come true,” Arab News reported. She added “[It is] a testament to years of dedication and strong belief in myself. This medal is not just mine; it belongs to Bahrain, my country that has embraced and supported me throughout my journey.”
Born Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu in Onitsha, Anambra, Naser began her athletics career in Nigeria, participating in the 2013 School Sports in Port Harcourt and the National Youth Games in Ilorin.
She moved to Bahrain at the age of 14. Three years later, she converted to Islam, and adopted her current name.
Naser’s achievement marks another significant moment for athletes of Nigerian heritage at the Paris Olympics. Just days earlier, Annette Echikunwoke secured a silver medal in the hammer throw for the United States after switching allegiance from Nigeria.
Naser made headlines in 2019 when she ran 48.14 seconds, the fastest time in 34 years, to win the world title. However, her career faced a setback in 2020 due to a provisional suspension for missed drug tests, resulting in a two-year ban that kept her out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Naser has been a dominant force in athletics for Bahrain, winning gold at the Military World Games and the World Youth Championships in 2015. At 19, she became the youngest woman to secure a podium finish for Bahrain, winning silver at the 2017 IAAF World Championships.
