Nigeria’s Joshua Omole has secured a coveted quota spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite numerous challenges, including contemplating quitting and struggling with basic needs, Omole’s perseverance has paid off. Throughout his boxing journey, Omole faced many obstacles. Disappointments in his career and the constant need to earn money for food were significant hurdles. Yet, he maintained a positive attitude, which eventually led to his success at the Paris 2024 Boxing Africa Olympic Qualifier.
Omole comes from a family that takes their spirituality seriously. This devotion to spiritual matters was instrumental in his taking up boxing eventually, and not football, which he had also pursued simultaneously. His decision to choose boxing ahead of football was based on the advice of his mother, who is also a pastor. She pointed out that through boxing, he was able to pay for his school certificate examination and other needs. She supported him with prayers and urged him to reconsider his decision to follow his dream. Consequently, he abandoned football and focused on boxing, attributing his success to the glory of Almighty God.
Training on an empty stomach was a common experience for Omole. Despite the physical toll, he continued to train rigorously, motivated by the desire to lift his family out of poverty. His dedication to boxing, a passion his mother fervently supported, kept him going. Omole was part of the national camp in the build-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. However, his efforts went unnoticed, and he missed out on the qualifiers, as Nigeria eventually failed to pick a place in Japan. This disappointment prompted Omole to turn professional, a monumental decision and turning point for him. Since turning professional, he has been unbeaten in nine fights.
Despite turning professional, Omole’s thirst to be an Olympian and represent Nigeria at the world’s biggest sporting event remained with him. Thus, when the national trials to pick pugilists that would represent the country at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games through the qualifying tournament in Dakar, Senegal, Omole made another attempt. This time, he fought his way through to win a place in the nine-man team that flew to Dakar for the qualifiers.
Omole’s journey was not without skeptics. There were those who doubted his abilities, but he proved them wrong time and again by winning at the National Trials. His determination and skill culminated in his victory over Yadesa Leta in the men’s 57kg category, securing a life-changing slot for the Olympics on a split decision. The bout against Leta was intense, with Omole managing to control the first round despite the Ethiopian’s relentless speed. His accurate punches, particularly his left cross, earned him enough points to win. This victory made him the first male boxer from Nigeria to earn an Olympic slot since Rio 2016.
From the first round at the Dakar qualifiers, Omole did not have it easy. He was set up against Sierra Leone’s Abu Kanu, but his determination to succeed led him to knock out his opponent to advance to the round of 16, where he met the experienced Ghanaian Wabib Omar. Against the Ghanaian Olympian, Omole fought like a warrior from the first round, spurred on by the National Coach, Anthony Konyegwachie. Omole’s performance convinced the five judges, who unanimously awarded the fight to him 5-0. Omole admitted that fighting Omar was his toughest bout in Dakar.
After taking out the experienced Ghanaian, Omole’s confidence rose higher as he saw a pathway to Paris for himself, even with three more fights to bag the ticket. The Lagos-born pugilist was ruthless in the quarterfinal, with his second knockout against Namibia’s Morning Ndevelo to berth in the semifinal. The explosive semifinal bout again brought out the best in Omole, who had to endure three rounds of heavy fisticuffs to record a unanimous 5-0 decision against Cameroon’s Christian Sangue and set up a final clash against another skillful boxer in Ethiopia’s Yadesa Leta.
Omole started well against the stubborn Ethiopian to win the first round and continued the fine display in the second. However, Leta came out strong in the third round, aiming for a knockout against the Nigerian. But Omole rose to the occasion, taking it all in stride to be crowned the champion and secure the sole ticket in the weight division to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Omole’s parents played a great role in his career. They supported him with prayers, even though many parents do not like it when their children go into boxing. His parents gave him the go-ahead and inspired him to aim higher. When he won the Olympics slot, the first thing that came to his mind was remembering the support of his church, family, manager, and many others. He is excited because he had an agreement with God to praise Him for giving him the chance to qualify. Omole’s achievement is a dream come true, a dream he has held since 2020. Now, as he prepares for Paris 2024, he stands as a symbol of hope and determination, ready to take on the world stage.
