Falilat Ogunkoya-Osheku (born 5 December 1968 in Ode Lemo, Ogun State, Nigeria)[1] is a Nigerian former track and field athlete who holds the distinction of becoming the first Nigerian to win an individual track and field medal at the Olympic games.[2]

Falilat Ogunkoya
Personal information
Born5 December 1968
Ode-Lemo Ogun
Medal record
Women's Athletics
Representing  Nigeria
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta 4x400 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta 400 m
African Championships
Gold medal – first place 1988 Annaba 200 m
Gold medal – first place 1989 Lagos 400 m
Gold medal – first place 1998 Dakar 200 m
Gold medal – first place 1998 Dakar 400 m
Silver medal – second place 1988 Annaba 100 m
Silver medal – second place 1989 Lagos 200 m
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1986 Athens 200 m
Bronze medal – third place 1986 Athens 4x100 m relay
All-Africa Games
Gold medal – first place 1999 Johannesburg 400 m
Silver medal – second place 1987 Nairobi 100 m
Silver medal – second place 1987 Nairobi 200 m
Silver medal – second place 1995 Harare 400 m

Ogunkoya has won a number of national championships, including a gold medal in 1996 in the 400 metres, gold in the 200 metres and 400 m in 1998, and gold again in 1999 and 2001 in the 400 m. At the 1987 All Africa Games in Nairobi she won the silver medal in the 200 m. In 1995 at the All Africa Games in Harare she won the silver in the 400 m, and at the 1999 Games in Johannesburg she won a gold medal in the 400 m.

At the 1996 Summer Olympics Ogunkoya won a bronze medal in the 400 m, behind Marie-José Pérec of France and Cathy Freeman of Australia, in a personal best and African record of 49.10, which is currently the twelfth fastest of all time. It marked the first time a Nigerian athlete won a medal in an individual track and field event.

Achievements

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing   Nigeria
1986 World Junior Championships Athens, Greece 1st 200m 23.11 (wind: +0.6 m/s)
3rd 4 × 100 m relay 44.13
1987 All-Africa Games Nairobi, Kenya 2nd 100 m 11.43
2nd 200 m 22.95

References

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  1. ^ Biography. Official website. Retrieved on 2014-01-12.
  2. ^ I Pray My Second Marriage Succeeds
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