Nigeria’s Olayinka Olajide fought back tears after her Commonwealth Games women’s 200m campaign ended in the semi-finals on Thursday, admitting that injury and a lack of preparation for the event made the challenge even more difficult.
Olajide finished seventh in her semi-final in 23.79 seconds, as the British Virgin Islands’ Adaejah Hodge won the race in a Commonwealth Games record of 22.01 seconds, ahead of Jamaica’s Ashanti Moore in 22.49 seconds.
Speaking to journalists moments after the race, the visibly emotional Nigerian sprinter revealed that she had been competing through pain and had considered withdrawing before deciding to fight on.
“I’m not actually in a very perfect shape because my hand is quite disturbing me. I wanted to pull out, but I’m a type of person that doesn’t give up.”
Although disappointed with the result, Olajide said the experience had taught her an important lesson about listening to her body and trusting her coach’s advice.
