Michelle Ibidapo, a 13-year-old swimmer and student of
The Grange School, Ikeja, has won Silver in the 1,500m women’s freestyle at the
Ogun 2024 National Sports Festival, representing Team Oyo.
Previously discovered at the National Youth Games
(NYG) in Asaba, Michelle has progressed rapidly through the national sports
system to now stand on the podium at Nigeria’s biggest multi-sport event.
Speaking with Sports247 after her victory, she
reflected on her preparation and mindset: “Coming into this competition, I was
focused.
I had my mind on winning a medal, even though I wasn’t
sure what color. During the last lap, I reminded myself to stay focused, and by
the end, it turned into gold.”
Her performance in Shagamu highlights the success of
the Youth Games in talent discovery, as well as the growing opportunities for
young athletes like Michelle to develop and compete at higher levels.
“What I’ve achieved today is just a start. My dream is
to represent Nigeria at the Olympics one day, and I believe that with hard
work, gold is possible there too,” she said.
Michelle’s rise is a signal to national sports
authorities about the value of structured talent development. From her
discovery in Asaba to her silver in Ogun, she’s a reminder that early support,
good training, and steady motivation can build tomorrow’s champions.
Comments:
Leave a Reply