Hurdler Amusan to be Nigeria’s Olympics flagbearer

World record sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan has been named Nigeria’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, the country’s sports ministry said on Tuesday.

Amusan becomes the first member of the athletics team to be given the honour in 20 years after Mary Onyali carried the flag at the 2004 Athens Games.

The Nigerian Olympic Committee also announced badminton player Anuoluwapo Opeyori as the general team captain.

“Tobi Amusan and Anuoluwapo Opeyori have shown exceptional dedication and commitment to their sports,” Nigerian sports minister John Enoh said in a statement.

“Their leadership will be invaluable to Team Nigeria as we aim for success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

Amusan, 27, was only cleared to take part in the Paris Olympics in June after the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed appeals against the decision to clear her of a doping offence.

She was charged in July 2023 with missing three anti-doping tests in a period of 12 months, but was cleared of the offence by a disciplinary tribunal of the sport’s governing body, World Athletics.

Amusan set the 100 metres hurdles world record of 12.12sec at the 2022 world championships in Eugene, Oregon and went on to win the world title.

She is the current Commonwealth and African champion in that event.

Opeyori won the African Championships and African Games in the singles event in 2019. He also won gold in the men’s singles at the 2023 African Games, and a silver medal in the men’s singles at Accra 2023.

His first Olympics was in Tokyo 2020.