Fourteen-year-old athlete, Oddo Melvin, set a new world record in the boys’ long jump during the ongoing Eighth National Youth Games at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba over the weekend.
The Games, which began on Thursday and were declared open by President Bola Tinubu, have already seen remarkable results. However, Melvin’s performance on Saturday evening stole the spotlight.
He represented Team Delta and achieved a 7.13m jump in the boys’ long jump, earning him a gold medal. This leap also set a new world record for the Boys’ U-14 category, surpassing the previous record of 6.25m.
Oddo Melvin had competed in the long jump during the previous edition of the National Youth Games but did not win a medal. However, on Saturday, he made a stunning comeback, winning two gold medals in one day.
First, he claimed victory in the high jump with a leap of 1.90m, equaling his personal best. Although he attempted 1.95m, he did not succeed. Shortly after, in the long jump event, Melvin broke the world record twice, with his first jump measuring 6.99m and then a final leap of 7.13m.
After his success, Melvin expressed his gratitude and ambition, stating that his goal is to win a medal for Nigeria at the Olympics.
“First, I thank God for making this possible. Since last year, I have been practicing so hard and I am glad my effort has paid off. My dream is to compete at the Olympics and win a medal for Team Nigeria,” he said.
His achievement was praised by former long jumper Olu Sule, who described him as a young athlete destined for greatness.
Solomon Ogba, chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the Games, urged the Nigerian Government to support athletes like Melvin by facilitating their training abroad, specifically in the United States.
Ogba believes Melvin has the potential to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
