Tokyo 2020: Finally, Nigeria registers first medal from Ese Brume 

Story from Kenneth AFOR, Lagos

Eleven days after the commencement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games when all hopes are nearly dashing out in most of the athletics events, Nigerians woke up to receive the news Tuesday morning that one of the country’s medal hopeful Ese Brume, a long jumper has registered the first medal.

She won bronze in the women’s final long jump.

Germany’s Malaika Mihambo clinched gold in the event category, snatching victory from former champion Brittney Reese with her last leap of the competition.

Ese’s 6.97 meters jump came just short behind 0.3 of Mihambo’s 7.00 meters and American Brittney Reese’s 6.97 meters.

The 25-year-old Brume won bronze at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

Having jumped a distance of 7.17m at the Chula Vista Festival in California in May, Ese had shattered Chioma Ajunwa’s 25-year long jump record of 7.12m.

Brume’s jump was the World Lead going into this year’s Olympics.

She was the only Nigerian athlete who reached the final of her event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where she placed fifth with a leap of 6.81m.

The country awaits another medal hopeful Blessing Oborodudu as she slogs it out with Tamyra Mensah-Stock from the United States Tuesday afternoon.