Gateway Games: 13-year-old wins Oyo’s first swimming medal in 7 years

Tofunmi Ibidapo, a 13-year-old swimmer, has ended a seven-year medal drought for Oyo State in swimming events at the National Sports Festival.

She won a silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke event on Thursday evening at the ongoing Gateway Games in Abeokuta.

Oyo State last won a swimming medal at the 19th National Sports Festival in Abuja in 2018.

Tofunmi delivered a strong performance, finishing second despite tough competition from Delta and Bayelsa states, prompting celebrations among spectators.

Speaking to journalists after the race, Tofunmi said she has been swimming competitively since age seven and previously won a gold medal at the National Youth Games.

She also competed at the African Swimming Championship in Egypt and the World School Championship in the UK, gaining experience despite not winning medals.

A junior secondary student at Queens School Lagos, Tofunmi attended the event with her parents and said her goal is to represent Nigeria at the Olympics.

She expressed her determination to train harder, saying every competition brings her closer to her dream of becoming a world-class swimmer and inspiring young athletes.