Lagos State young swimmer made mess of the dominance of Delta State in the swimming event of the 5th National Youth Games with a sterling performance that surpassed their last year’s outing.
Team Lagos swimming squad inspired by Oluwasemilore Ogundipe was a thorn in the flesh of Team Delta who cleared most of the gold medals in 2018 Games, but found it so difficult to repeat the same feat this year due to Team Lagos stunning improvement.
In the overall results made available to P.M. EXPRESS at the end of the swimming events at the Ilorin Township Stadium Thursday evening, Team Delta could only manage a slim lead with 6 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze, while Team Lagos who could not win any gold last year when Delta was dictating the pace, won 5 gold, 9 silver and 1 bronze medals this year compared to 1 silver and 1 bronze they won last year.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the overall results was a shock to Delta State officials who had thought that they were in the Games to prove their dominance in swimming event again.
The icing on the cake for Team Lagos was the last event, 4x50m mixed medley relay. With a strong first set from Abduljabar Adama who ensured that he gave other foes a long gap for Oluwasemilore Ogundipe to consolidate on by expanding the wide margin. He handed over the baton to Naomi Oke and Agnes John for the team to swim to a golden finishing.
“This was awesome awesome awesome!!!!! I’m moved to tears with the performance of these wonderful swimmers. They have made Lagos State proud,” Dr Kweku Tandoh, Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission said in excitement.
” The Swimming Association has fulfilled their promise to turn around the fortunes of swimming in the State. Kudos to Chairman Mr Segun Adekoya and his Association Members. Kudos to the Coaches and the Association Secretary too,” Dr. Tandoh said.
“Even if I didn’t win any individual gold in this Games, I’m so happy with this team gold I won with my colleagues, ” an elated Adams said.
The swimming event was competed by 13 states.
Overall results sheet for swimming at 5th NYG