Senator John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, applauds the remarkable achievement of Ese Brume, the Nigerian long jumper, who clinched second place at the Diamond League’s long jump event in Eugene, Oregon.
Brume narrowly missed claiming her first Diamond League title, coming in second in the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.85 meters (0.2), marking her most notable jump of the year.
The Nigerian athlete matched the same distance as the champion, Ivana Vuketa from Serbia, with a jump of 6.58 meters, but the tiebreaker determined their positions.
The current Olympic bronze medalist and reigning Commonwealth champion came agonizingly close to etching her name in history as Nigeria’s first field athlete to secure a Diamond League trophy, narrowly missing out by a slender margin.
Ivana’s 6.85-meter jump left Brume without the opportunity to counter, as she opted not to take her sixth attempt, possibly due to an injury.
Ivana Vuleta from Serbia, the reigning world champion, captured her fifth Diamond League title, including her third consecutive win in the long jump.
He took to his social media accounts to celebrate Brume’s success, commending her for finishing strongly even though she narrowly missed first place.
He wrote, ‘Ese Brume has continued to make us proud time and again. From the Olympics to the Commonwealth Games to the Diamond Leagues, Ese has consistently ranked amongst the top athletes in her sports, globally,’
‘While it is disappointing that she narrowly missed out on the Diamond League title, I want to state that the country remains proud of her achievements. I am sure that she will bounce back and take her rightful place. I urge her and other athletes likewise to stay focused on the bigger picture as we draw closer to the 2024 Olympic Games.’
After earning a bronze medal at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, Brume continued her success by claiming silver medals at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene and the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade.
Ese Brume’s remarkable 7.02-meter jump in 2022 earned her a Silver medal, marking Nigeria’s second medal on the concluding day of the World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, she secured a gold medal, successfully defending the title she had won back in 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Ese Brume’s quest to create history for Nigeria at the recently concluded World Championships in Budapest was painfully thwarted when she finished fourth in the women’s long jump final.
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The Nigerian competitor was on the brink of making history as the most decorated athlete from West Africa in World Championships history, having earned bronze and silver medals in 2019 and 2022.
Ese Brume’s recent achievements in international athletics include a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, followed by silver medals at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene and the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade. Additionally, she clinched a gold medal in Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
In a similar vein, Oluwatobiloba Amusan, the world hurdles record holder, concluded her season with a remarkable and record-breaking achievement, securing her third consecutive Wanda Diamond League title.
At just 26 years old, she became the second athlete to accomplish this remarkable feat, following in the footsteps of American athlete Dawn Nelson-Harper, who claimed the Diamond League 100m women’s hurdles title in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, took to social media to celebrate the success of the Nigerian stellar athletes, Amusan and Brume.
He said, ‘I proudly congratulate the duo of Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume, both winning at the Diamond League held in Eugene, Oregon, United States of America.’
‘Oluwatobiloba Amusan for winning the 100m Women’s Hurdles in a time of 12.33 to reclaim her Diamond League title while Nigerian long jumper, Ese Brume for her silver medal achievement in the long jump event at the Diamond League.’
‘The duo of Tobi and Brume represents strength, mental toughness, and the Nigerian spirit.’
‘The victory was a beautiful way for Amusan to wind down an athletic season that brought joy, tears, and goosebumps.’
‘Her determination and mental strength are worth emulating. Ese Brume, on the other side, has continued to make us proud time and again.’
‘From the Olympics to the Commonwealth Games to the Diamond Leagues, Ese has consistently ranked among the top athletes in her sport globally.’
‘I join millions of Nigerians globally to felicitate with both Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume on their deserved wins at the Diamond League.’
‘Both victories are those that will restore their confidence after the difficult ordeal both passed through this year.’
‘Even though Tobi lost the World Championship title, she won our hearts in Budapest. I am glad that she was able to overcome all of the challenges to defend her crown for the third consecutive time.’
‘Brume came close to winning her first Diamond League title after leaping 6.85m, just as Ivana Vuketa, who won gold, I am mostly proud of her for finishing strong, despite missing out on first place by very small margins.’
‘I urge Tobi, Brume, and other Nigerian athletes to reflect on this season, applaud themselves for their hard work, and look towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.’
‘His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the utmost commitment to sports and the President will stand by all Nigerian athletes, who are fighting hard to represent the country on the international stage.’