Oluwasemilore Ogundipe won gold in 50m breastroke
Team Lagos began Day Two of the ongoing 5th National Youth Games taking place in Ilorin, Kwara State, north central Nigeria, with a quick hauled of two gold medals in the morning session of swimming event.
Lagos team also won a silver medal in swimming which was held inside Ilorin Township Stadium Wednesday morning.
Oluwasemilore Ogundipe best all his opponents to win gold in boys 50m breastroke with a time of 34 secs., while Favour Adeju won another gold in the girls 50m breaststroke with a time of 42 secs. Silver medal was won by Agnes John.
Ogundipe described his victory as easy won because he had rigorous training ahead of the Games.
“I found this competition very easy because I have been training very hard, most especially training with my peers in Lagos,” he said. Ogundipe was hopeful of making a great career in swimming even as he wanted to work very hard to succeed academically.
Favour Adeju said her victory at the Games was propelled by serious training packaged by the Lagos State Sports Commission.
Lagos State swimming coach, Daniel Tari Jasper noted that the training before the competition has been so great and he was not surprised with the results coming out from the swimming event.
Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, who was at the swimming pool to cheer the athletes said that he was delighted with the progress the state made in swimming in the last one year.
“We did not win any gold medal in swimming in last year’s tournament. When we got back home, we re-strategised. We have a lot of talents in both the public and private schools in Lagos.
“We exposed these swimmers to different competitions to sharpen them. We came to the Youth Games with the determination to surpass last year’s record and the result is what we have begun to reap now. I expect that Lagos will win more gold medals by the time the event ends tomorrow.
“I must commend the board of Lagos State Swimming Association which came in last December and has been able to do a lot to train these kids for this tournament. It is a joint effort that has produced a great result for us,” he said.
Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh (2nd left) with all the swimmers who won medals in the morning session of swimming event on Wednesday.