Mariam Bolaji Eniola: Nigeria's Golden Hope Shines Bright with Historic Paralympic Bronze
Mariam Bolaji Eniola makes history at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, becoming the first African to win a Para badminton medal. The Nigerian athlete now sets her sights on gold in 2028.
Mariam Bolaji Eniola emerged as the bright spot in Nigeria’s otherwise lacklustre performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
A Historic Moment for Nigerian Sports
The 18-year-old made history by securing one of Nigeria’s only two medals at the event, while also etching her name in African sports history.
Bolaji clinched a bronze medal in the women’s Para badminton SL3 event, defeating Oksana Kozyna to become the first African to win a medal in badminton at both the Paralympic and Olympic levels.
Mariam Bolaji Eniola's Paralympic Triumph
In just five years since taking up the sport, Bolaji’s achievement goes beyond personal glory.
“I am deeply honoured to be the first African to win a medal in this event. This is a significant achievement for me, perhaps the most important in my career to date,” she told Sportboom.com
Bolaji's path to the Paris Games was fraught with challenges. She only secured her qualification a few weeks before the competition began and faced financial constraints leading up to the event. Nevertheless, she pushed through the obstacles, dedicating herself to rigorous training.
"Coming into the tournament, I was confident in my ability to perform well, given the hard work I put into my training. While there were challenges along the way, I was able to overcome them," Bolaji said.
Though thrilled with her accomplishment, Bolaji remains unsatisfied with the bronze and is setting her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.
I am not entirely satisfied with the bronze medal, as my goal was to win gold. I have consistently performed at a high level and felt I could have achieved more. Nonetheless, I will use this as motivation moving forward.
Mariam Bolaji Eniola
Support System: Key Figures Behind Bolaji’s Success
Bolaji’s journey began after an accident left her with reduced mobility in her left leg. Initially a para table tennis player, she switched to badminton under the guidance of the late Coach Bello Oyebanji, who passed away in 2021.
"I dedicate everything to my late coach, Mr. Oyebanji. His passing has been a major inspiration for me, and I wish he is here to witness everything," she said.
Despite the challenges, Bolaji had strong support in Paris from her national team coach, Adewale Olasunkanmi, and Dina Abouzeid, who trained her during her tour in Spain. "She’s, our superstar. Very hard-working and dedicated, and we weren’t surprised by her achievement," Olasunkanmi said.
The Future of Nigerian Para Sports
Looking ahead, Olasunkanmi highlights the importance of continued support for Bolaji. “To maintain her world ranking of number two and potentially become number one, she needs to participate in more tournaments and gain experience. Preparation for Los Angeles 2028 must begin now, ensuring early qualification,” he said.
As Nigeria basks in the glow of Bolaji's historic success, the country must now focus on ensuring her rise to further greatness, with hopes pinned on her quest for gold in 2028.
Seyi Alao is a Nigerian sports reporter, writer, and producer, known for delivering engaging sports content in both English and Pidgin. At Brila FM, I transitioned seamlessly into the role of Content Creator, demonstrating a deep understanding of media dynamics and effectively crafting captivating and informative narratives.