Yemisi Ogunleye, the German-Nigerian shot-putter, captivated the audience at the Paris 2024 Olympics, yesterday, not only by clinching the gold medal in the shot put but also by celebrating her victory with a touching tribute to her heritage.
Ogunleye, 27, who has steadily risen through the ranks of European athletics, delivered a powerful performance with a throw of 20.00 meters, to win the gold medal in shotput event.
Yemisi Ogunleye’s achievement marks her as one of the leading stars in the sport, showcasing her exceptional skill and dedication.
The true highlight of the evening came after her victory, as Ogunleye surprised her fans by singing a traditional Yoruba gospel song.
Watch Video here:
“I’m a German and my dad is Nigerian, so I’m a mixed girl. It makes me proud to represent Nigeria(Ekiti where my dad comes from) and also my hometown in Germany” — Shot Put Gold medalist, Yemisi Ogunleye.
pic.twitter.com/ZImBoNa04s https://t.co/n1ww7XFfx9
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) August 10, 2024
Speaking to reporters after the event, Ogunleye expressed her joy and pride in representing both Germany and her Nigerian heritage.
“Yeah, they will. I guess my mom and my dad, they’re in front of the TV watching right now. It’s crazy. I mean, I’m a German and my dad is Nigerian, so I’m both. I’m a mixed girl, and it just makes me proud to represent Nigeria. Ekiti State, Omuo Oke, where my dad comes from. Yeah, and also my hometown, Welheim in Germany.
“Yeah, it just gives me so much confidence to know that there are so many people out there supporting me, and they believed in me in times where I couldn’t believe in myself. They just spoke so many encouraging words into my life. Also, the support from my church. I go to an international church, Presbyterian Culture.
“I’m just so overwhelmed that, yeah, they supported me all these years and they believed in me and we’re definitely going to rejoice. I woke up this morning and I read the Bible verse that says, Be bold, be strong for the Lord thy God, he is with thee. So I think this really gave me confidence to perform on such a high level. He gave me so much peace, gave me so much joy. And I was able to perform in my first attempt. 20 meters was so, so crazy. So really it is the grace of God that I am here, that I am alive, that I am here.”
Meanwhile, Nigerians on microblogging platform, X, have continued to shower praises on the athlete commending her for not losing touch with her root.
Sport photojournalists, Pooja, tweeted, “Yemisi Ogunleye sings a Yoruba gospel song after winning gold for Germany at the Olympics.”
“Yesterday, Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye won the gold medal in the women’s shot put event at the #Paris2024 Olympics and displayed “YOU ARE LOVED, JOHN 3:16” CHRIST IS KING.” popular C influencer and medical doctor, Sport Dokita tweeted.
Another X user, Tolulope (@Tolulope_Charmz) tweeted, “Ekiti to the world! Listen to Yemisi Ogunleye speak yoruba so well, though brought up in Germany. But you, who haven’t leave oshodi forbids your own children from speaking your language or answering a local name to identify them anywhere they go to in the world.”
