Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medalist, Blessing Oborududu, has been elected into the United World Wrestling (UWW) Athletes Commission as Africa’s sole representative for the next four years (2021 to 2025). The 10-time African champion polled 90 votes from the 397 athletes, who participated in the election during the 2021 World Championships in Oslo, Norway at the weekend.
This is a massive win for an African country as it is not easy to get voted in as she is still very young although she has been a 10 time championship holder. The commission in the past has tend to take older candidates but one can assume that she has enough wins and experiences to be nominated for the vote.
The 32-year-old Commonwealth gold medalist will join six other wrestlers from Europe (two), Asia (two), Americas and Oceania in the Athletes Commission. A statement from the UWW dated October 11, 2021 and signed by its Secretary General, Michel Dusson, said the seven members will conduct a separate election, on a yet-to-be determined date, to choose their chairperson.
“These seven members will now elect the chairperson of the Commission. UWW will contact all commission members for this process,” the statement read in part.
Obourududu, who is also the captain of Team Nigeria’s Women Wrestling Team, made history in August by becoming the country’s first Olympic medalist in wrestling, after claiming silver in the 68kg event at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
