Samuel Ogazi (born 14 May 2006) is a Nigerian sprinter.[1]

Samuel Ogazi
Ogazi in 2024
Personal information
NationalityNigerian
Born (2006-05-14) 14 May 2006 (age 18)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventSprint
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)100 metres: 10.90 (Abuja, 2022)
200 metres: 20.71 (Tuscaloosa, 2024)
400 metres: 44.41 (Paris, 2024)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Nigeria
African Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Douala 400 m
Commonwealth Youth Games
Gold medal – first place 2023 Port of Spain 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2023 Port of Spain 400 m
Gold medal – first place 2023 Port of Spain Mixed 4x100 m relay
African U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Ndola 200m
Gold medal – first place 2023 Ndola 400m

Early life

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Ogazi was based as a teenager in Kaduna.[2] In 2023, he accepted a scholarship to study at the University of Alabama.[3]

Career

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He competed in the 4x400m relay at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.[4]

He won the 200m and 400m at the 2023 African U18 and U20 Championships in Athletics in Ndola, Zambia.[5] He won gold over 200 metres and 400 metres at the Athletics at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. He also won gold in the mixed 4x100m relay as his Nigerian team set a new games record.[6]

In March 2024, he set a new Nigerian under-18 record for the 400 metres, running 45.35s to finish second overall behind Christopher Morales Williams in Louisiana.[7] The following month he lowered his personal best to 45.29 seconds in Florida.[8]

He competed for Nigeria at the 2024 World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.[9] With a time of 3:12.87, the Nigerian Mixed 4x400m team of Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Chidi Okezie and Esther Joseph set a new Nigerian national record and African Continental record at the event on 5 May 2024.[10] Later that month he lowered his personal best to 44.53 seconds in Lexington, Kentucky.[11] He was runner-up at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, running 44.52 seconds.[12]

In June 2024, he won bronze in the 400 metres at the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon.[13] He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics over 400 metres in August 2024, where he ran a personal best on his way to the final, where he placed seventh overall.[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "Samuel Ogazi". World Athletics. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Samuel Ogazi is star athlete as AFN golden league ends in Abuja". Guardian.ng. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  3. ^ Fameso, Funmilayo (1 December 2023). "Samuel Ogazi: Nigeria's most talented 200m/400m sprinter gains US college scholarship at the University of Alabama". Pulse Sports.
  4. ^ "Men's 4x400m Results: World Athletics Junior U20 Championships 2022". Watch Athletics. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Top 12 Nigerian Male Athletes in 2023 – Part 1". Making of Champs. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  6. ^ Eludini, Tunde (11 August 2023). "Commonwealth Youth Games: Team Nigeria sets new record, wins three gold medals on final day". Premium Times. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Samuel Ogazi joins idol Chidi Okezie in illustrious 400m mark, breaks Nigerian 26-year-old youth record". Pulse Sports. 1 April 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Ogazi & Onojuvwevwo blast to PBs at Tom Jones Memorial Classic!". Making of Champs. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Ofili, Okere made our jons easy in Bahamas says AFN". Guarianng. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Two Nigerian teams qualify for Olympic Games Relays". Premium Times. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  11. ^ "NCAA East". World Athletics. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  12. ^ Rodriguez, Kyle (7 June 2024). "Here Are The NCAA Track And Field Championships Results On Day 3". Flotrack. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Brume sails to fourth title as Bass Bittaye and Moraa win at African Championships in Douala". World Athletics. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Men's 400m Hurdles Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  15. ^ "AFN lists 35 track-and-field athletes for Olympics". punchng.com. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.