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Ruth Usoro has come of age at professional and elite levels.
When the women's long jump event takes center stage at the African Games in Ghana, the spotlight will be on two of the world's best jumpers this season: Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro.
The Nigerian duo top the list to finish in the leading medal positions and will be chasing history of their own in gunning for the title.
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While Brume stands as the outright favourite to successfully defend her title, Usoro has attained significant strides this season, giving her a shot at causing a major upset.
Brume and Usoro's stakes of winning the gold medal
As the African Record holder in the event and Africa's most decorated female long jumper in history, Brume will be gunning for another title to add to her iconic collections.
Her success in this quest will see her make history as the second Nigerian woman after Modupe Oshikoya (1973 & 1978) to defend a long jump title in African Games history.
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For Usoro, the stakes is to win her first senior continental title in her first year as a signed professional athlete.
The 26-year-old already edges her senior counterpart as the highest-ranked African female jumper heading to Ghana, with her excellent indoor distance of 6.87m that qualified her for the Olympics and puts her No.5 on the world Top list, while Brume's 6.84m is eighth on the world list.
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With the World Indoor Championships not going as planned for both women, they'll be aiming for their first gold medal to kick off their outdoor season in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games.
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09:45 - 02.02.2023
OPINION Ruth Usoro rising through the ranks as one of Africa's best jumpers in history
Ruth Usoro is just getting to the peak of her career, so still has a lot to offer and be in the game for many years. She may not be there yet, but she's steadily rising through the ranks of being one of Africa's best jumpers in history.
Can Ruth Usoro stun Ese Brume to the gold medal?
If considering the experience and consistency of the two-time Olympian, then the bookies will say it's impossible.
Brume never loses at African level. She's a championship performer and knows how to win when it matters most. However, there's always a first time, and it can be Usoro's moment to dethrone her supremacy.
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19:57 - 12.03.2024
Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume: 3 reasons why Nigeria's track and field queens are in Ghana for the African Games
What does Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume stand to gain by competing at the African Games in Ghana? Read more on this in the article.
Usoro has come of age at professional and elite levels. With the disappointment of missing the world indoor championships, of which she was a huge medal contender as the silver-medal winner won with 6.85m, she's motivated to claim her first title against her senior rival.
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19:30 - 10.02.2024
Ruth Usoro qualifies for Paris Olympics with world-leading mark of 6.87m
Ruth Usoro is the latest Nigerian to qualify for the Paris Olympics after jumping to a world lead in the women's long jump.
Also, she is listed to compete in the triple jump, where she stands as the outright favourite for the title. So what's better than winning one gold? Going for two won't be a bad idea.
The underdog that can also upset Brume and Usoro
Prestina Ochonogor is the new kid on the block that can cause an upset to Brume and Usoro. The Nigerian youngster has been in outstanding shape this season, setting a brilliant personal best of 6.66m.
With the African Games being her first senior international outing, Ochonogor will be aiming to make it a memorable one by winning a meda or upsetting one of her seniors.
No matter what happens, the likelihood of a Nigerian 1-2-3 is unarguably possible, and the 6.79m Games Record set by South Africa's Janice Josephs in 2007 will only stand a matter of time.
With the disappointment of missing the world indoor championships, where she was a huge medal contender, she will be motivated to claim her first senior title against her senior rival Ese Brume at the African Games in Ghana.
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