ESTHER KOLAWOLE LIFTS NIGERIA’S FLAG HIGH WITH GOLDEN SHOW AT SPANISH GRAND PRIX

Esther Kolawole delivered a commanding performance at the Spanish Wrestling Grand Prix.

Nigeria Sports Wrestling Gold medal Africa.
Esther Kolawole
Esther Kolawole


Nigeria Wrestling star and Africa Champion Esther Kolawole made an emphatic statement on Saturday, crushing the competition to clinch gold at the Spanish Wrestling Grand Prix a major milestone on her road to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The 21-year-old wrestling star dismantled American Haylie Jaffe 10-0 by superiority in the final, sealing a flawless run through the tournament held in Madrid. It was a performance that not only earned her the gold medal but also confirmed her growing dominance on the international stage.

Kolawole began her campaign with an authoritative 10-0 victory over Spain’s Lydia Perez in the quarter-finals. She followed up with a gritty 4-1 semifinal win against Poland’s Alicja Nowosad before completely overpowering Jaffe in the final.

The result marks a stunning leap forward from her bronze-medal finish at the same event in 2024, proving that the reigning African champion is evolving into a global force.

Kolawole’s victory is part of a broader preparation strategy spearheaded by the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, aimed at boosting athletes’ exposure to high-level international competition ahead of major global events. Next up for her is the World Wrestling Ranking Series in Budapest, Hungary, from July 14, followed by the World Wrestling Championships in Croatia this September.

Accompanied by national women’s team coach Purity Akuh, Kolawole is one of several Nigerian athletes benefiting from increased competitive exposure abroad. Coach Akuh believes the approach is already paying dividends.

“We are heading to these tournaments to compete,” Akuh said. “However, we want to continue to expose our wrestlers by competing with their international counterparts in such tournaments.”

Kolawole’s gold adds to Nigeria’s medal haul at this year’s Grand Prix, where Christinah Ogunsanya also bagged a bronze in the 53kg category. With Paris 2024 looming, the momentum is building.

Esther Kolawole’s triumph in Madrid isn’t just another win it’s a warning shot to her Olympic rivals and a proud moment for Nigerian wrestling.

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