Fresh Controversy Brews in Track and Field Community as Fans Question American Authorities Over Visa Issues: “Not Good for the Country”

Is visa denial bias hanging over Nigerian track and field athletes ahead of the Paris Olympics? The Diamond League in Suzhou wrapped up on a victorious note, while the African long jump record holder was denied a visa by the Chinese Embassy in Lagos causing her to miss the meet. The gravity of this situation dates back to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, when the same Nigerian athlete, among others, had to participate without their coaches due to a delay in obtaining visas.

To participate in her third Olympics, the long jumper has moved her focus to the United States to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her efforts are tied to creating national history as the first Nigerian track and field athlete to win two individual golds. Now, supporters drew attention to the recent tweet on the issue, with many condemning American officials.

Track and Field athlete’s tale goes viral

Ese Brume, 28, won a bronze medal in the long jump event at the Tokyo Olympics. Last month, she qualified for the African Games in Accra, Ghana, with a 6.92m leap, but a +3.9m/s tailwind wiped her berth ticket leaving her hungry for a second opportunity. Now she’s aiming for a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Taking the matter to X, @Xtopherewesi wrote, “Nigerian athletes have struggled to secure visas this year. The relay teams are meant to leave this week for Bahamas, but they don’t have US visas yet. Ese Brume missed out on the Suzhou Diamond League, because she was denied a Chinese visa. She was denied a UK visa in March.”

Brume was hoping to utilize the Diamond League in Suzhou to reach 6.86m and gain automatic qualification for the Summer Games. The next chances will be at the African Senior Athletics Championships beginning June 21, as well as the Diamond League on July 7 in Paris, France.

Brume’s coach, Kayode Yahaya told The Guardian that they submitted all necessary documentation to the Chinese Embassy for a visa, but it was rejected. “I don’t really know why they refused to give us visa this time,” he said. The previous Olympics in Tokyo included 60 Nigerian participants. Back then, about ten athletes were ruled unfit to compete, making it the “most affected country,” since they failed to take the three mandatory out-of-competition tests despite not testing positive for any substance.

During the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, more than 99 visa cases remained unresolved out of 374 escalated visa cases. Unfortunately, the event garnered widespread condemnation directed at US authorities, since few athletes made it even three hours before their heat. This time again, the online reaction is growing like wildfire as more individuals take a strong position against American authorities.

Supporters chime in to protest for Nigerian athlete

Not a silent spectator in the USA’s visa delay for track and field athletes, one wrote, “This is not good for the country.”

Self-proclaimed Track & Field Journalist Lillz TIL shared, “The way Nigerian Track & Field athletes are being denied visas to attend major championships can only be described as racism in its purest form. An OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST (@EseBrume1) should not be experiencing such, it’s embarrassing. They’re robbing her of a living ffs.“

“Top Nigerian athletes are struggling to secure visas for big races this year and their visas have been rejected,” another commenter shared how only a few from Team Nigeria are facing the issue, notably, the potential history makers.

Another commenter labeled the whole fiasco, “So sad.”

Team Nigeria, which competed in ten Olympic sports last Summer Games, is hoping to add to its medal count this year, with Ese Brume emerging as a clear favorite to win a long jump medal if she qualifies.