Esiovwa-Thompson credits Nigerian fans for Commonwealth gold

Oghenegaren Esiovwa-Thompson has explained that the chants and cheers from Nigerian supporters provided the motivation needed to secure his Commonwealth Fencing Championship gold medal. The 17-year-old fencer became the first Nigerian to win a title at the competition during the men’s U-23 epee event.

Esiovwa-Thompson noted that the presence of Nigerian fans at the venue influenced his performance. He stated that the support from the crowd hit him every time he entered the stage and was a key factor in his victory. The fencer also expressed happiness at having his parents present to watch his performance live.

The gold medal follows a decision by Esiovwa-Thompson to switch his sporting allegiance from England to Nigeria. While he spent several years representing England and winning various medals, he decided to compete for Nigeria to pursue his goal of participating in the Olympic Games. He mentioned that he always felt a desire to fence for the country despite growing up in England.

Esiovwa-Thompson attributed his ability to remain composed during the competition to his extensive international experience. He noted that he has been fencing for most of his life, which allowed him to stay relaxed and manage the exchanges effectively. He only realized he was on track to become the first Nigerian gold medalist at the championships just before the final match.

The victory took place at Rugby School Nigeria. Esiovwa-Thompson described the feeling of winning the title as being on top of the world.