Sports
2016 Olympics Bartoletta Wins Long Jump Gold Ahead Of Reese
The United States secured
a one-two in the Olympic women’s long jump as Tianna Bartoletta upset defending champion Brittney Reese to win gold at Rio 2016.
Bartoletta, the 30-year-old world champion, took gold with a new personal best of 7.17m.
Reese, 29, could only manage 7.15m with her final attempt, claiming silver ahead of Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic, who jumped a national record of 7.08m.
Britain’s Jazmin Sawyer, 22, finished eighth with a jump of 6.69m.
“Eighth in my first Olympic final is good, but I jumped 6.69m and I’m better than that,” she said.
“I know I shouldn’t really be disappointed. I’m the highest-placed Brit and I’ve beaten a lot of girls that I’ve been thinking are a lot better than me, but I wanted to beat more of them.”
Fellow Briton Lorraine Ugen, 24, was eliminated after the first three jumps.
The Londoner, a bronze medallist at this year’s World Indoor Championships, could only jump 6.58m to finish 11th.
Bartoletta, however, had little time to enjoy her victory on Wednesday night – she had to focus on the women’s 4x100m relay on Thursday morning.
She is part of the US squad running in the heats at 11:28 (15:28 BST).
“I couldn’t really celebrate. When I won, I realised I have to be back in the morning for the relay,” she said.
Russia’s sole track and field athlete at the Rio Olympics, Darya Klishina, failed to make an impact as she finished in ninth.
The Florida-based 25-year-old, who was suspended by athletics world governing body the IAAF on Friday only for the decision to be overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, could only manage a best leap of 6.63m, meaning she was eliminated after three jumps.
“I feel really well and I’ve gotten a lot of support from other athletes,” she said. “I missed the last week-and-a-half of training, so I could’ve done a lot better than I did.”
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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