At just 16 years old, Miracle Ezechukwu is proving to be Nigeria’s next big sprint sensation. From her breakout moment in 2023 at Tobi Amusan’s athletics meet in Ijebu Ode—where she clinched three gold medals and the Most Valuable Athlete award—to dominating the recent Confederation of African Athletics U-18 and U-20 Championships in Abeokuta, Ezechukwu is sprinting straight into global recognition.
Representing Nigeria among 92 athletes, Ezechukwu won triple gold—claiming victory in the 100m, 200m, and sprint medley events. Her 100m finish at 11.88 seconds (-0.4) led a Nigerian clean sweep, followed by Rosemary Nwankwo (11.96s) and Mariam Jegede (12.20s). In the 200m, she smashed her personal best with a time of 23.87s, while teammates Chigozie Nwankwo and Perezide Sigah secured second and third places, cementing Nigeria’s dominance.
“I’ve been training hard to do this. My dream has always been to represent Nigeria and break my personal best in the 200m,” Ezechukwu told PUNCH Sports Extra. “Crossing the finish line and seeing the time, I wanted to cry. I’ve been chasing that mark.”
Behind her rising success are the Nigerian Tulip International School and the N-Youth Sports Academy. Coaches Felix Onoriode and Abdulhakeem Idris—one of the youngest World Athletics-certified coaches globally—have been pivotal in her progress. Coach Idris reflected on her achievements, saying, “Miracle is a goal-getter. I’m proud of the hard work she’s put in, and the results are showing.”
Despite her young age, Ezechukwu has faced adversity. At the 2024 International School Sports Federation Games in Bahrain, she was disqualified in the 100m. A viral video showed her in tears, but she bounced back strong, clinching silver in the 200m. This mental resilience has become one of her defining traits.
Now training two and a half hours daily, Monday through Friday, Ezechukwu lives away from her family, driven by a scholarship that offers her the chance to pursue greatness. “I miss my family, especially my mom,” she admitted, “but I know this is what I need to become great.”
With her discipline, talent, and blazing speed, Miracle Ezechukwu isn’t just dreaming—she’s building a path to the Olympics and inspiring a new generation of Nigerian athletes.
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