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By Abiodun Adewale
Nigerian sprinter, Chidi Okezie, who won Nigeria’s first gold medal in the men’s 400m at the African Games since 1987, says former 400m champion, Innocent Egbunike, messaged him on Wednesday before he went for his race, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Okezie stormed to a personal best of 45.06s at the ongoing 2023 African Games in Ghana, the fastest time by a Nigerian athlete in that discipline in nine years, to claim his first gold since he started representing the country in 2016.
The 30-year-old became the second Nigerian to win the African Games 400m title since Egbunike ran a time of 44.23s to win the title in Nairobi 1987. Now 61, Egbunike also won an Olympic bronze medal in 4x400m relay in Los Angeles 1984 as well as a silver medal in the 400m at the 1987 World Championships.
“Innocent is my role model. This morning (Wednesday) he messaged me and gave me the motivation I needed. It feels amazing to have won it. It’s been my goal for a while and no words can explain how I feel,” Okezie told Making of Champions.
“It’s very motivative especially since this is my first outing in the outdoor season. So, I feel I have a lot more in store.”
Okezie will be back in action for the men’s 4x400m relay on Friday (today) and he is confident of victory in the event, which draws the curtain on the Games.
“The team is very strong and we keep going hard for the gold in the 4x400m and having fun.”
Born to a Nigerian father Moses Okezie and a Jamaican mother Carol Morris, Okezie graduated from Hampton University in 2015 and has a Master’s in Sports Administration. Before switching to Nigeria in 2016, he was part of the American 4×400m relay team that won a gold medal at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona.