Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborududu has been elected into the United World Wrestling (UWW) Athletes Commission as Africa’s sole representative for the next four years (from 2021 to 2025).
The 10-time African champion polled 90 votes from the 397 athletes, who participated in the election during the 2021 World Championships in Oslo, Norway at the weekend.
The 32-year-old Commonwealth gold medalist will join six other wrestlers from Europe (2), Asia (2), America, and Oceania in the Athletes Commission.
A statement from the UWW dated 11th October 2021 and signed by its Secretary-General Michel Dusson, said the seven members will conduct a separate election, on a yet-to-be-determined date, to choose their chairperson.
“These seven members will now elect the chairperson of the Commission. UWW will contact all commission members for this process,” the statement read in part.
Obourududu, who is also the captain of Team Nigeria’s Women Wrestling Team, made history in August by becoming the country’s first Olympic medallist in wrestling, after claiming silver in the 68kg event at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
She remains a role model for many Nigerian girls looking to take up wrestling as a career.
Oborududu has won all African titles apart from 2012 when she skipped the continental event for London 2012, the first of her three Olympic appearances.
