2014 in Pictures: Okagbare Rules Commonwealth 100m & 200m Sprint

Blessing Okagbare Competing Against Shelly-Ann Fraiser-Pryce in Doha in 2014.
Blessing Okagbare Competing Against Shelly-Ann Fraiser-Pryce in Doha in 2014.

Blessing Okagbare finished runner-up behind Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m at the maiden IAAF Diamond League meeting of the 2014 season in Doha, Qatar, in May.

Blessing Okagbare Broke the 200m Record at the Shanghai Diamond League Meeting in May.
Blessing Okagbare Broke the 200m Record at the Shanghai Diamond League Meeting in May.

The 26-year-old then broke two meeting records (MR) weeks later to complete her moments of double glories at the second Diamond League Meeting of the 2014 IAAF season in Shanghai.

The Nigerian first set a new meeting record of 6.86m to win the women’s long-jump in the Chinese city, before claiming the 200m in another meeting record time of 22.36secs.

Okagbare’s Diamond League successes includes victories in Laussane, Switzerland, Monaco, and Paris, France.

Commonwealth Games

Blessing Okagbare Celebrates Winning the Women's 100m in Glasgow. Image: PA.
Blessing Okagbare Celebrates Winning the Women’s 100m in Glasgow. Image: PA.
Okagbare Powers Pas Kerron Stewart and Veronica Campbell-Brown in Scotland. Image: Getty.
Okagbare Powers Pas Kerron Stewart and Veronica Campbell-Brown in Scotland. Image: Getty.

Okagbare set a new Commonwealth Games record and season’s best (10.85sec) in Hampden Park in the final of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland.

Okagbare Clinches 2014 Commonwealth Games 200m Sprint in Scotland. Image: Getty.
Okagbare Clinches 2014 Commonwealth Games 200m Sprint in Scotland. Image: Getty.

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare successfully completed a Commonwealth Games sprint double after another dominant performance in the women’s 200m final at Hampden Park on Thursday, July 31.

The African sprint queen coasted down the line in 22.25secs, ahead of Team England’s pair of Jodie Williams and Bianca Williams. The victory also saw her become the first African to clinch a Commonwealth Games sprint double.

Okagbare went on to set a new championship record in the 100m race at the African Athletics Championship in Marrakesh, Morocco in August.

Okagbare becomes a wife
Blessing Okagbare Married
In November, the Delta State-born athlete tied the knot with her long-time boyfriend and ex-Nigeria international, Igho Otegheri, at St Patrick Catholic Church in Sapele.

Okagbare Presenting a plaque to President Goodluck Jonathan During a Presidential Gala in Aso Rock.
Okagbare Presenting a plaque to President Goodluck Jonathan During a Presidential Gala in Aso Rock.


Other 2014 highs and lows

Ese Brume Celebrates Winning Gold in Long Jump at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Image: Getty.
Ese Brume Celebrates Winning Gold in Long Jump at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Image: Getty.

Ese Brume, 18, clinch gold in the long jump event a the 2014 commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Nigeria claim bronze in the women’s 4x400m at the inaugural IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.

Chika Amalaha Stripped of Her Gold Medal at Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Following Her Failed Drug Test. Image: Getty Image.
Chika Amalaha Stripped of Her Gold Medal at Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Following Her Failed Drug Test. Image: Getty Image.