Pundits, journalists and avid followers of the Nigerian athletic scene have discussed her potential extensively and Joy Udo-Gabriel has proven them all right.
The 19-year-old has not just left her mark on the local scene, she’s has got the rest of the world taking note of her after posting the fastest time in the West African sub-region.
According to Making of Champions, Udo-Gabriel set the record on her way to winning the 100 and 200 metres titles at the recently concluded ECOWAS Under-20 Athletics Championships in Cape Coast, Ghana.
Udo-Gabriel has been putting the work in and it has been paying off since the turn of the year. In April, she represented Nigeria at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, becoming a part of the bronze-winning women’s 4×100 metres team. She also made it to the semi-final of the women 100m.
In June, she posted the fastest time and went on to win the women’s 100 metres final at the National Under-20 and Under-18 Trials. The victory qualified her for the ECOWAS championship.
It really has been a pivotal year for Udo-Gabriel. Congratulations to her as we hope she remains fleet of foot.