In what will go down as one of the biggest upsets of the 22nd National Sports Festival, Nigeria’s rising cycling star, Osaretin Godwin, delivered a stunning performance to dethrone Olympic cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye in the women’s 200m sprint final.
The dramatic showdown, held Thursday at the cycling venue near Kobape, along the Sagamu-Abeokuta expressway, electrified fans and left the festival buzzing with excitement.
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Osaretin, representing Team Edo, outpaced Ukpeseraye of Rivers State 2-0 in the best-of-two races to claim the coveted gold medal, halting Ukpeseraye’s dominance in the event.
The Olympian had previously clinched back-to-back gold medals in the 200m sprint at the Edo 2020 and Delta 2022 editions of the festival.
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This time, however, it was the young Osaretin who stole the spotlight and the crown. In both races, she outmanoeuvred the seasoned champion with raw speed and precision, with the second race ending in a photo-finish drama.
As the athletes crossed the line, Ukpeseraye raised her hands in premature celebration, thinking she had won. But the official photo-finish revealed that Osaretin’s front wheel had touched the line just fractions of a second earlier, enough to seal the victory.
The venue erupted in celebration, with Edo athletes and even some from Delta jubilantly embracing Osaretin’s triumph. There was extra emotion in the air, as Ukpeseraye had previously represented Delta before switching allegiance to Rivers State.
Delta State coach Moses Omozusi, who discovered Ukpeseraye in Ethiope-East and played a key role in her rise to prominence, didn’t hide his excitement over Osaretin’s emergence. He personally gifted her wads of Naira notes in appreciation of her feat.
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“I am very happy that at last I have achieved my desire to win a gold medal at the National Sports Festival meant for elite athletes, and I give glory to God,” a beaming Osaretin said after the race.
Ukpeseraye had to settle for silver this time around, while Mary Samuel of Delta State claimed the bronze.
In the men’s 200m sprint, Kwara State emerged victorious with the gold, Delta picked up the silver, and Edo added another medal to their tally by clinching the bronze.
With her sensational victory, Osaretin Godwin has not only announced her arrival on the big stage; she’s also shaken up the hierarchy of Nigerian cycling.
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