Clinton Opute of Team Delta delivered a sensational performance at the Gateway Games 2024 in Ogun State by smashing a 16-year-old national record in the Men’s 200m Butterfly final. He clinched the gold medal with an impressive new national best time of 2:10.8 seconds, significantly lowering the previous record of 2:13.1 seconds set in 2006.
Despite the excitement around his achievement, Opute humbly admitted in an exclusive chat, “I didn’t know I broke the record.” Upon confirmation, he expressed renewed motivation, saying, “Immediately I confirmed I broke the national record, I felt more hunger to do more.”
He credited his success to faith and the hard work of his coach. For Opute, holding the national record means more than winning gold — “It feels great to be a national record holder than the gold medal,” he said. Looking ahead, his sights are set on the Olympics. “My aim is for the Olympics; we need the right investment in our sports to get a podium finish globally,” he stated.
Opute’s achievement not only highlights his dedication but also sets a new benchmark for Nigerian swimming. He was also part of the relay team that earned Nigeria its first swimming medal in 33 years at the 13th African Games in Ghana. The new national record is pending ratification by the Nigeria Aquatic Federation, but it already inspires hope for Nigeria’s future on the global stage
