Usoro counts blessings of Budapest, begins Olympics’ preparation

Nigeria’s Ruth Usoro (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP)

Although U.S.-based Nigerian long jumper, Ruth Usoro, did not win any medal at the 19th World Athletics Championships, which ended yesterday in Budapest, she is still happy that she was able to learn a lot from competing against the world’s best jumpers.

Usoro, a finalist at last year’s World Championships at Oregon, United States, narrowly missed out on making the final in Budapest. She was in the 12th and final qualifying spot with a mark of 6.60m, only to be tipped off the standings by Fatima Diame, who jumped 6.61m in her last attempt.

Speaking with The Guardian at the athletes’ training ground at the National Athletics Stadium in Budapest, Usoro said: “I am so glad I competed in this year’s World Championships. I give God the glory. I was close to picking the ticket to the final, but I narrowly missed the chance. Notwithstanding, I gained a lot by competing with some of the best athletes in the World.”

Usoro started her season with a win at the Miramar Invitational, where she recorded a wind-aided leap of 6.82m. She followed it up with a third-place finish at the Bermuda Grand Prix, jumping to a legal Personal Best (PB) of 6.82m. Her last competition was at the Ed Murphy Classics in August.

The former NCAA champion made the final last year in Oregon, where she placed 11th.

With the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest now over, Usoro says her focus is on the Paris 2024 Olympics Games. “Whatever experience I gained in Budapest, I will improve on it in the build up to the 2024 Olympics. I believe in God that something great awaits me in Paris.

“Olympic Games is the biggest sporting event, and I will have to work hard towards achieving my goal. I believe the