Tokyo 2020: Teenager Ogunbanwo smashes Nigerian swimming record

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Teenage swimmer, Abiola Ogunbanwo, on Wednesday, at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, won Heat 1 of the 100m women’s freestyle to set a new Nigerian record.

The 17-year-old first-time Olympian finished the race in 59.74s to smash Ngozi Monu’s longstanding record of 1:00.50, which was set in 2007.

Ogunbanwo’s previous best in the 100m freestyle was 1:00.77.

Competing in the first heat of the women’s 100m freestyle event, Ogunbanwo came first ahead of Andela Antunovic of Montenegro (1:00.01), Nepal’s Gaurika Singh (1:00.11), and Guam’s Mineri Gomez of Guam (1:04.00).

Her time was not good enough to take her through to the next stage however, as she was 50th in the time list, with only the top 16 advancing to the semi-finals.

Ogunbanwo, though, should be proud to reach a milestone by not only competing at the Olympics at just 17, but also breaking a national record which was set when she was only three years old.

As well as her new 100m national record, Ogunbanwo is also the Nigerian record holder in the 400m freestyle and 200m breaststroke.

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