Australia-based Nigerian swimmer, Abiola Ogunbanwo, has finished 59.74 seconds to win the women’s 100 meters freestyle heat at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, setting a Personal Best time.
The 17-year-old also set a new national record with the heat result.
The new feat makes her the first Nigerian woman ever to finish the event in less than one minute surpassing Ngozi Monu’s long-standing record of 1:15 m achieved during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Despite her exploit, her timing could not guarantee her a place in the semi-finals meant for the best 16 swimmers, as she finished 48th place overall at the conclusion of the total six heats.
She becomes the 10th Nigerian to take part in swimming at the Olympic Games after entering the competition with a personal best of 1:00.77.