Swimming: Team Lagos Prioritizes Future Talent At Gateway Games

By Saheed Afolabi

While winning medals is always a goal, Lagos State is making a powerful statement at the Gateway Games 2024 by investing in the future of its athletes.

This positive mindset approach was evident in the women’s 4x200m Freestyle relay, where Team Lagos proudly fielded an inspiring quartet of secondary school teenagers: Daniella Akanbi, Olutise Nedd, Nesomagh Nwizu, and Funmilayo Demehin.

These young swimmers, competing against older and more experienced athletes, many twice their age, finished with a commendable time of 11:26.28. Their performance deeply resonated with the Gateway Games LOC, spectators, and sports stakeholders alike, symbolizing Lagos State’s deliberate commitment to long-term talent grooming.

The Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) isn’t just chasing immediate victories. Instead, it has adopted a strategic approach that prioritizes early exposure, technical development, and the psychological readiness of its young athletes.

Mr. Lekan Fatodu, the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, praised the swimmers and reiterated the commission’s developmental philosophy.

“We are not just here to win medals, we’re here to build champions,” Fatodu said.

“By giving these young athletes a platform at this level, we’re planting seeds that will blossom in a few years. It’s about grooming, consistent exposure, and ensuring they grow with the confidence and resilience needed to succeed nationally and globally.”

He further emphasized Lagos’s commitment to sustaining this pipeline of talent across all sports, ensuring that athletes are not just discovered but properly nurtured to reach their full potential.