Okagbare in good shape to hit gold

Nigeria sprinter
Blessing
Okagbare
believes she can
upset the
pecking order at
the Olympics and
outshine her 100
metre rivals from
Jamaica and the
United States.
The 23-year-old
has hit form at
the right time,
dipping under 11
seconds twice
this month to
record victories
at both the
London and
Monaco Diamond
League events
against her
fellow
competitors for
sprint gold.
Okagbare, a
bronze medallist
in the long jump
in Beijing four
years ago, now
has genuine
belief she can
add a medal in
the 100m in
London.
“My recent win in
Monaco has
boosted my
confidence,”
Okagbare said. “I
think I’m ready
to face the
world. I’m just
going to go out
and do my best.
“I’m aiming for a
top three overall.
If I get the gold,
I’ll take it.
Whatever
happens I will
accept my fate.”
At Crystal Palace
earlier this
month, Okagbare
scored a surprise
win over
defending
Olympic champion
Shelly-Ann
Fraser-Pryce of
Jamaica and
reigning world
champion
Carmelita Jeter.
She then
followed that up
with victory in
Monaco, clocking
a season’s best
10.96sec.
Although her
rivals from
Jamaica and the
United States
remain the
bookmakers’
favourites,
Okagbare says
she is unfazed by
the prospect of
lining up against
them in London.
“You race with
them from day
to day. It’s not
any different at
the Olympic
Games,” she said.
“They are not
threats to me.
When I went to
Beijing, I was 19
and I got the
bronze medal.
This year it feels
different.”