Funmi Oduwaiye Explained
Funmi Oduwaiye |
Birth Name: | Oluwafunmilola Oduwaiye |
Nationality: | British |
Sport: | Athletics |
Disability Class: | F64 |
Pb: | Shot put: 11.03m (Paris, 2023) Discus: 33.23m (Cardiff, 2022) |
Oluwafunmilola Oduwaiye is a British para-athlete who competes in the Shot put and Discus.[1]
Early life
From Cardiff,[2] she was 11 years old when she joined Cardiff Met Archers basketball side. In 2019, she represented Wales at the Under-18 European Basketball Championships in Moldova and was named one of the players of the tournament.[3]
Career
She took up para-athletics in 2022, following multiple surgeries to her legs. An initial surgery to try to correct Genu valgum resulted in a damaged artery, with subsequent surgeries unsuccessful.[4] [5] She was left paralysed in her right leg from the knee down.[6]
Competing at the Welsh Athletics Championships, she threw a new personal best in the shot put of 11.03 metres. That day, she also threw 32.26 metres in the discus.[7] In July 2023, she made her World Para Athletics Championships debut in Paris.[8] She finished sixth in the F64 discus and fourth in the F64 shot put.[9] [10]
In March 2024, she was announced as a subject of a Channel 4 documentary detailing athletes in the run-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, along with other athletes and para-athletes such as Keely Hodgkinson, Hannah Cockroft and Jake Wightman.[11]
Notes and References
- Web site: Oluwafunmilola Oduwaiye. Powerof10. 28 March 2024.
- Web site: Young Welsh Para-athlete planning to compete for Team GB at the 2024 Paralympic Games. ITV.com. 28 March 2024. Lewis Rhys. Jones. 3 September 2023.
- Web site: FUNMI ODUWAIYE: THE BASKETBALL STAR FINDING NEW DIRECTION IN PARALYMPIC SHOT PUT AND DISCUS. Sport.Wales. 28 March 2024. 8 March 2024.
- Web site: Oduwaiye eyes Paris after basketball dream fades. 1 December 2023. BBC Sport. 28 March 2024.
- Web site: Rachel. Steinberg. Para thrower Funmi Oduwaiye ‘always knew I was destined for great things’. The Independent. 1 December 2023. 28 March 2024.
- Web site: LET'S TALK: FUNMI ODUWAIYE - ABLE BODIED TURNED GREAT BRITISH PARA ATHLETE. Sportin.Wales. 28 March 2024.
- Web site: Dai Sport. 28 March 2024. Fun Time . . . Funmi Oduwaiye Sets Sights On World Para Athletics Championships In Paris. 1 July 2023.
- Web site: Gareth. Bailey. Oduwaiye seeks gold on World Para-athletics debut. BBC Sport. 6 July 2023. 28 March 2024.
- Web site: ODUWAIYE MARKS WORLD DEBUT WITH SIXTH IN DISCUS. British Athletics. 28 March 2024. 19 July 2023.
- Web site: Funmi Oduwaiye Targeting Paralympic Glory In Paris After Impressive Senior Championship Bow. Dai Sport. 28 March 2024. Gareth. James. 15 July 2023.
- Web site: Channel 4 documentary follows nine GB athletes in run-up to Paris Games. Athletics Weekly . March 28, 2024 . 28 March 2024.