Ruth Usoro, who qualified for the Women’s Long Jump event at the Paris Olympics, has revealed that insufficient participation in tournaments prior to the Games affected her performance.

Despite her efforts, Usoro finished 10th in the final with a jump of 6.58 meters, falling short of a medal.

“I didn’t have a lot this season as per competition. I’ve learned resilience here, not giving up despite the whole circumstance,” Usoro shared in an interview with Making of Champions.

Reflecting on the event, Usoro expressed pride in the progress of Nigerian athletes, noting, “That was the plan I had in my head all along. I believed that the three of us could get to the final, and history has been made.”

Usoro’s teammates, Ese Brume and Grace Ochonogor, also reached the final in their respective events.

However, like Usoro, they missed out on podium finishes, with Brume placing fifth with a mark of 6.70 meters and Ochonogor finishing 12th with a jump of 6.24 meters.

Despite Nigeria ending the Games without a medal in the event, Usoro remains optimistic.

“This is just the beginning for Nigerian athletes in the long jump, especially for women. So, I believe that there will be many more to come,” she said, looking ahead to future competitions.