My goal now is to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics for Nigeria – Ese Brume

Delta born Nigerian long jumper, Ese Brume says her goal now is to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics for Nigeria.

Brume disclosed this at Benin during the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) on Monday that she was working hard for this.

She said she wanted to replicate Chioma Ajunwa’s feat at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where Ajunwa won Nigeria’s very first Olympic gold medal.

“I have trained hard and trust God to get me a medal, and not just a medal but a gold medal.

Brume, however, revealed that she wasn’t the only one working hard.

“Inam is working in this direction with my coaches and hopefully by the grace of God our hard work will not be wasted,” she said.

The long jump, however, urged the federal government to ensure adequate preparation for Nigeria’s athletes to do well at the Olympics.

The reigning African champion who competed for the Delta team at NSF said the festival was good preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, however.

Brume told the media that she is preparing for the Olympics, although she believes there is a need for the government to step up preparations for all Nigerian athletes linked to the Olympics.

“The federal government needs to create a better atmosphere for all athletes linked to the Olympics. We also need better training facilities.

“Besides the facilities, we also need financial support to be able to take care of ourselves professionally for the Olympics, as some of us don’t have the financial means.

“Support should not be just for athletes, but also for our coaches. With that, I can assure you that we will do well (at the Olympics), ”said Brume.

She said so far that she had received no financial support from the government for her preparations for the Olympics.

“Nothing has been given to me to support my preparations for the Olympics. I don’t know about the other (athletes), but I hope they (the government) do something soon, ”said the long jump finalist at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The 2019 World Athletics Championships bronze medalist also called on relevant stakeholders to support Nigerian athletes as they step up preparations for the Olympics.

Brume, a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, also said a closed campsite with weather conditions similar to Japan should be set up for athletes ahead of the Olympics.

The Cyprus-based Nigerian athlete remains one of Nigeria’s top medal prospects at the Tokyo Olympics.

NAN reports that the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics will now be held from July 23 to August 8.