Nigerian sprinter Rosemary Nwankwo has described her outing at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone as the biggest moment of her athletics career so far, following Team Nigeria’s successful qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
Speaking to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Media Hub, Nwankwo expressed deep gratitude and excitement after helping Nigeria secure a place on the global stage.
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“This is my first biggest tournament since I started athletics and I’m so grateful to God,” she said. “Qualifying for the World Championships is a major milestone in my life.”
The journey to qualification was not without tension. A baton exchange issue during an earlier race threatened to derail the team’s chances, but the athletes regrouped and delivered when it mattered most.
“What happened yesterday was nobody’s fault but thank God we had another opportunity to run again. We told ourselves we could do this, forget the past and focus on what’s ahead,” she explained.
Known for her consistency in the 100 metres, Nwankwo revealed her mindset during the decisive race—one driven purely by team success rather than individual rivalry.
“I wasn’t looking at anyone. It was about what I could give to help my team succeed. I just ran with everything I had.”
Looking ahead, the Nigerian sprinter has already set her sights on the upcoming African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana, where she hopes to make an even greater impact.
With confidence growing and experience on her side, Nwankwo appears poised to build on her breakthrough moment in Gaborone and establish herself as a key figure in Nigeria’s sprinting future.
