13-Year-Old Swimmer Michelle Ibidapo Wins Gold for Team Oyo at National Sports Festival

Thirteen-year-old Michelle Ibidapo, a student of The Grange School, Ikeja, has claimed gold in the 1,500m women’s freestyle event at the Ogun 2024 National Sports Festival, representing Team Oyo.

Michelle, who was first discovered at the National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, has risen swiftly through the ranks of Nigeria’s sporting system to reach the top of the podium at the country’s premier multi-sport competition.

Reflecting on her victory in Shagamu, Michelle shared her mindset going into the race:
“Coming into this competition, I was focused. I had my mind on winning a medal, even though I wasn’t sure what colour. During the last lap, I reminded myself to stay focused, and by the end, it turned into gold.”

Her win underscores the growing impact of the Youth Games in unearthing young talent and the increasing opportunities available for promising athletes to develop and shine on the national stage.