Blessing Okagbare is a Nigerian track and field athlete who specializes in long jumping and short sprints. She is an Olympic and World Championships medalist in the long jump, and a world medalist in the 200 metres. She also holds the Women’s 100 metres Commonwealth Games record for the fastest time at 10.85 seconds.
She is the current African record holder in the 200 m with her run of 22.04 seconds in 2018. She was the African 100 m and long jump champion in 2010. She has also won medals at the All-Africa Games, IAAF Continental Cup and World Relays.
Blessing Okagbare Medal records
| Olympic Games | ||
| Silver medal – second place | 2008 Beijing | Long jump |
| World Championships | ||
| Silver medal – second place | 2013 Moscow | Long jump |
| Bronze medal – third place | 2013 Moscow | 200 m |
| Commonwealth Games | ||
| Gold medal– first place | 2014 Glasgow | 100 m |
| Gold medal – first place | 2014 Glasgow | 200 m |
| Silver medal – second place | 2014 Glasgow | 4×100 m relay |
| Bronze medal – third place | 2018 Gold Coast | 4×100 m relay |
| All-Africa Games | ||
| Gold medal– first place | 2011 Maputo | Long jump |
| Gold medal – first place | 2011 Maputo | 4×100 m relay |
| Gold medal – first place | 2015 Brazzaville | 4×100 m relay |
| Silver medal – second place | 2007 Algiers | Long jump |
| Silver medal – second place | 2011 Maputo | 100 m |
| African Championships | ||
| Gold medal – first place | 2010 Nairobi | 100 m |
| Gold medal – first place | 2010 Nairobi | Long jump |
| Gold medal – first place | 2010 Nairobi | 4×100 m relay |
| Gold medal – first place | 2014 Marrakesh | 100 m |
| Gold medal – first place | 2014 Marrakesh | 4×100 m relay |
| Gold medal – first place | 2018 Asaba | 4×100 m relay |
| Silver medal – second place | 2012 Benin | 100 m |
| IAAF World Relays | ||
| Gold medal – first place | 2015 Nassau | 4×200 m relay |
| Continental Cup | ||
| Bronze medal – third place | 2010 Split | 100 m |
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar had a candid interview with Blessing Okagbare, an Olympic and World Championships medalist in the long jump where she talks about her workout, diet, and success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You are an Olympic African record holder in the 200 m with your run of 22.04 seconds in 2018.Walk us through your spectacular journey and tell us how it all began?
Blessing Okagbare:
It all started when I was in high school where I was just running/jumping at inter-house sports in high school for fun and I was really good at it. Even as a little girl I loved running and jumping with the boys in my street and also played soccer with them. One faithful afternoon, I went to my older sister high school as she had told her teacher she has a little sister who can run. So, they put me in a race with other girl older than me and i won against all of them. He then told me I am good and that if I train and take it seriously, I can represent my country someday.
Little me said no as I was only running for fun not for anything he was saying as I do not even know about all what that is. One week later after giving it a thought, I went back to him, told him I was ready and he took me the stadium in my home town and registered me in a sport club called dynamic athletics club.
From then on I started training but was not really taking it seriously as I just felt like there was nothing so important in it. Months after that, my coach sent me home and said I am not serious about what they do at the track and specifically told me not to come back until I am ready to be an athlete. Well, I went home, thought about it for days and I went back. From there on, my life took different part as I went from high school into-house sport to local competition, state competition, and national competition, got a scholarship to study/run track in the United States of America where my true success story began and now the world knows.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2020 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
Did you grow up aspiring to become a professional athlete?
Blessing Okagbare:
Honestly no. I grew up aspiring to be an accountant. An ability to serve people in a financial sector.
Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life, both on and off the field.
Blessing Okagbare:
Wake up in the morning with my prayers first, get my morning coffee depending on how I am feeling that day. Eat breakfast like 9am latest because I usually want to eat at least two hrs away from practice.
Practice starts at about 11am and run through 3pm. I am currently a volunteer assistant coach so; I get to help my coach with the college athletes through 6-6:30pm. After that I head home, shower, grab dinner and try to do some of my school work that are due. In-between all this, I find time to catch up with friends, family and love ones… social media..lol. It does change during the week depending on what other activities I have scheduled.
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine that you would like to share with our viewers?
Blessing Okagbare:
Running, cardio exercise and weight lifting.
Namita Nayyar:
Share the diet that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit? 5 foods you absolutely love.
Blessing Okagbare:
Well as an athlete, i try to eat healthy as much as i can. Food/love which include
- Cereal…. honey bunches oat to be precise
- Eggs… Any style
- Rice…. any style
- Fried plantain
- Vegetables…. Spinach
- Fish…. salmon
Namita Nayyar:
Having to train constantly in extreme climate conditions, how do you take care of your skin and hair?
Blessing Okagbare:
Well, I really do not know what you mean when you say climate condition but I live in Texas when it get cold, hot, raining and sometimes I refer to it as bipolar as you do not know what to expect. I really do not have any problems taking care of my hair and skin. I know I have a dry skin and hair to, I keep them moist as much as possible.
Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your motivator in your success in the field of your career?
Blessing Okagbare:
Motivator in the field of my career no one really as I do motivate myself more that anyone has but, I do have people who are not in the field of play but motivate me a lot knowing what i do as an athlete.
Namita Nayyar:
Share with us your HIIT home workout that works great for a athlete’s body? Five stretchs to avoid injury.
Blessing Okagbare:
On days that I am not training I usually do my stretch routine like
- Interior hamstring stretch
- Cat and cow stretch/back arch
- Lunge stretch
- Straddle stretch
- Hamstring stretch
Namita Nayyar:
Five tips to work upon for aspiring long jump athletes. Mental preparations necessary before a competition.
Blessing Okagbare:
- Talk positively to yourself
- Trust yourself that you are ready
- Limit distractions from cell phone and social media
- Listen to positive words/music that inspires you that can get you ears away from noise/distractions
- Believe you can do it.
Namita Nayyar:
Amidst the terror of COVID-19, one life lesson that you’ve learnt?
Blessing Okagbare:
That there are things that can really humble you and there isn’t much you can do about it.
Namita Nayyar:
Five key factors to follow while preparing for future championships.
Blessing Okagbare:
- Set realistic goals
- Work towards the set goals
- Be extremely discipline towards achieving those goals
- Eat healthy
- Prioritize taking care of your body as it is your power house
Namita Nayyar:
Share a few words about the website Womenfitness.net and message for our visitors?
Blessing Okagbare:
I think the womenfitness.net website is an amazing website for every woman looking to a healthy lifestyle and ways to get motivational tip that will help them grow.
For the visitor, you will not be disappointed as the website have all it take to help you achieve that healthy life style, improve your fashion sense and get motivational and encouraging/testimonial that can help boost your confidence.
Blessing Okagbare social media presence
- Instagram @itsblessingokagbare
- Twitter @mountain214
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission. All Written Content Copyright © 2020 Women Fitness