South Africa’s Udeme Okon has claimed gold in the 400m final at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, with an impressive comeback performance, finishing with a time of 45.69 seconds.
Okon’s victory, which was widely shared on social media, has sparked reactions from both Nigerians and South Africans, given his dual ties to both countries. Okon’s Instagram profile, where he displays both the Nigerian and South African flags, highlights his connection to both nations.
The reactions to his win have been largely positive, with many celebrating his achievement across borders despite recent tensions between the two nations. These tensions were previously inflamed by the controversy surrounding Miss Chidinma Adetshina, a South African-born model of Nigerian and Mozambican descent, whose eligibility to compete in the Miss South Africa pageant was questioned, leading to her withdrawal from the competition due to safety concerns.
In contrast, the response to Okon’s victory has been one of admiration and support. On X (formerly Twitter), users from both countries congratulated Okon on his achievement. Some acknowledged his Nigerian heritage, while others celebrated his success as a win for South Africa.
One user, Tebogo Koma, expressed support by saying, “That name doesn’t sound South African ‘Udeme Okon’, but if he’s legal, then we fully support him.” Another user, Saint-mykel, highlighted Okon’s Nigerian roots, saying, “Na Akwa Ibom boy be that ooo lol.” Despite these differing perspectives, the overall sentiment was one of pride in Okon’s performance.
Another user, Tumishang Mashabela, commented, “No identity fraud, I hope. Nigerian first- proudly South African. Congratulations, young man.” Meanwhile, Navneet K Singh praised Okon’s finish, calling it “sensational” and noting that South Africa now has a new star on the track.
Despite occasional mentions of the ongoing tensions between Nigerians and South Africans, the majority of the reactions to Okon’s win have been celebratory, with many recognizing his achievement as a unifying moment in sports.
The World Athletics U20 Championships, taking place from August 27 to 31, 2024, is an international competition for junior athletes and is currently ongoing in Lima, Peru.
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