As the world gears up for the grand spectacle of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games set to take place from July 26 to August 11, all eyes are once again on Nigerian taekwondo sensation, Elizabeth Anyanacho.
In what will be her second appearance on the Olympic stage, Anyanacho is determined to seize this second chance with all the vigour and resilience she embodies.
From her historic qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to her valiant efforts in the face of seasoned opponents, Anyanacho has proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of taekwondo.
The 24-year-old is the second Nigerian female taekwondo athlete to compete at the Olympic Games after Princess Dudu at Athens 2004. She is now set to make history as the first Nigerian female taekwondo athlete to compete at two Olympic Games after picking her ticket at the African Qualifying Tournament in Dakar, Senegal which held from February 10 to 11.
Reflecting on her debut at the Tokyo Olympics, where she narrowly missed out on advancing to the medal rounds, Anyanacho sees it as a stepping stone rather than a setback.
“My experience at the Tokyo Olympics was an interesting one. It was my first time on such a platform, and while the outcome may not have been what I hoped for, it was a valuable learning experience,” she said.
Reflecting on her journey to securing a spot at two Olympic Games, Anyanacho said, “I think I have gained a level of maturity in the sport from the last Olympic Games, which is why it looked easy on the surface, it was not at all.
“It is not as easy as it looks. God has been and is the one helping me plus the training, dedication and the hard work we put into it.”
Comparing her current experience to that of Tokyo 2020, Anyanacho emphasises the significant changes and improvements she has undergone.
“I would say a lot has changed, my walk with God became stronger, the training became tougher, the competitions increased and much development began to set in. I started to understand the game better and my confidence level increased. I already had a good background in taekwondo; I just needed to be polished.”
President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Abdullahi Saidu-Baba echoed Anyanacho’s sentiments and is confident of her abilities.
“Her chances of winning a medal are very bright, the Elizabeth that was in Tokyo is different from the Elizabeth now. She was young, inexperienced and now she has matured with a lot of experience,” he said.
Preparations for the Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal have been rigorous for Anyanacho. The 24-year-old credits her success to the unwavering support she received and her training regimen saying, “A lot of preparations went into it – training, the competitions, and the specific things I needed to build. The support from friends and family and every little detail that was put in is cherished.
“There’s no such thing as too much preparation. So, I would continue with what I have been doing, being consistent and intentional about every detail, that is prayers, training, more prayers and more training.”
Training tirelessly at the Taekwondo Competence Center in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Anyanacho has honed her skills and sharpened her focus in anticipation of the upcoming Games. Drawing from her past experiences and armed with a newfound understanding of the game, Anyanacho is resolute in her determination to give her all at the Paris Olympics where she anticipated a tough outing.
“I have really tough opponents and I know they are training hard. I don’t envisage having any easy matches in Paris. But I will do my best and fight with all I have,” she said.
“Putting all my experiences together, I have a good feeling that I’m going to get a very positive result in Paris.”
Saidu-Baba outlined plans to further enhance Anyanacho’s preparations for the Paris Games saying, “Now that she has qualified for the Olympics, I’m thinking with the NOC to see how we can give her training tour, maybe in Korea and the US.
“She has been attending a lot of championships in Europe, and she has been doing very well and we’re still going to allow her to be under the tutelage of her coach from Germany. Maybe we will just attach one Olympic coach from Nigeria to the team, to also assist in the training.”
With the unwavering support of her federation and her sheer determination, Anyanacho stands ready to embrace her second chance at Olympic glory, aiming to etch her name in the annals of Nigerian taekwondo history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
