Gateway Games 2024: Team Ogun shines with two gold medals in swimming
Team Ogun has made a powerful statement on Day 4 of the 2025 National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Gateway Games 2024, with two gold medals in swimming and an impressive run in women’s handball.
Omolola Tobiloba made headlines after clinching Team Ogun’s first gold medal of the festival in the Women’s 800m Freestyle event at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena.
The young swimmer delivered a commanding performance, outclassing stiff competition from perennial contenders Delta and Bayelsa states.
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The 16-lap contest saw Omolola finish comfortably ahead of her rivals, sparking jubilant celebrations from Ogun fans. Among those cheering was Honourable Bukola Olopade, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, who joined in singing the Ogun State anthem “ISEYA” to mark the momentous victory.
In another major win for the host state, Kolade Otunla etched his name into the record books by breaking the men’s 100m backstroke record with a stunning time of 1:02 minutes, securing Ogun’s second gold in the pool.
Otunla’s performance shattered the previous record set in 2018 and confirmed his status as one of the country’s elite swimmers.
The momentum extended beyond the pool as Team Ogun’s women’s handball team continued their impressive form by defeating Plateau State 35–25 to advance to the next round.
The victory follows their commanding 32–20 win over Kogi State earlier in the week at the Alake Sports Centre in Ijeja, Abeokuta.
While attention remains on the host state’s growing medal haul, other states also recorded significant results in handball. Sokoto State stunned Edo State 22–20 in a close contest, while Lagos continued their dominant run with a 33–13 rout of Bauchi. In one of the day’s most thrilling matches, Oyo edged Delta 35–34, overturning a halftime deficit in the final minute.
With two gold medals already secured and momentum on their side, Team Ogun looks poised for a memorable outing at the Gateway Games 2024. The stellar performances by Omolola Tobiloba and Kolade Otunla have not only ignited the home crowd but are also setting the tone for more victories as the festival progresses.
