Ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024, Texas NCAA Player Leaves Team USA for Nigeria

The 2024 Paris Olympics are only months away. Athletes of all disciplines, including track and field, are gearing up to secure a spot in their respective national teams. While most of them are eager to carry the stripes of their countries, others are looking elsewhere for a more challenging time. Texas University’s shot put star Marilyn Nwora has been recently revealed to be transferring her allegiance, making the road to Paris a little more difficult for the Longhorns athlete.

A social media post has shed light on Nwora’s decision to lend her skills and expertise to the Nigerian national team. With the Africa Games coming up shortly, Nwora might get a taste of her new squad’s abilities soon and do the necessary to catch up with her new colleagues.

Texas student stays true to her roots

Marilyn has been studying for a degree in Public Health. She claimed that being able to study in the prestigious institute on a scholarship helped her grow in many ways and also stated that Texas University has been a “vital” part of her journey in uncovering her unique identity. The World Athletics official website recently made Marilyn’s move to Nigeria official. Her official bio on the website reads, “USA until 16 JAN 2024 – eligible to represent NGR in National Representative Competitions from 17 JAN 2024.”

Nwora’s accolades as a Longhorn make her the perfect addition to the African nation’s Olympic aspirations. With a personal best of 18.14 meters, Nwora is undoubtedly a force to reckon with. The experience she gained during her time in the US will bring a lot to the table, as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria aims to bolster the country’s competitive edge in global sports. The same was recently outlined by the Performance Director of the Federation of Nigeria, Victor Okorie.

An athlete to watch out for in the Olympics

Okorie recently said, “I want to inform you that we have made another groundbreaking record by grabbing a female athlete, Marilyn Nwora, who will lead our chase for gold in the women’s Shot Put event this year.”

As a Texas senior, Marilyn has racked up some serious achievements. Nwora has been named in USTFCCCA’s both indoor and outdoor All-American second teams in 2023, highlighting her current form in the shot put. In 2022, Nwora made it to the Academic All-Big 12 first team, hailing her performance in the classroom as well as her achievements on the track.

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Nwora finished the 2022-23 NCAA season in 15th place, making her one of the best in the business. Now, as she looks to make the move to Nigeria, it waits to be seen what fate and fortune have in store for the future Olympian.

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