The 22-year-old sprinter Favour Ofili, who holds Nigeria’s national record of 21.96 seconds in the 200m and the African record of 22.11 seconds, shared her thoughts on Instagram, expressing both gratitude and reflection as she embraces her new chapter in Türkiye.
She also acknowledged the emotional toll of missing this year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
“I’ve made this decision… While it means sitting out this year’s championship in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not financial motives. I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey. I’m excited for what’s ahead and thankful for the support I received from my coach, agent, sponsor @adidas, and loved ones during this difficult time,” she wrote.
Ofili, who set the women’s 150m world record with a time of 15.85 seconds at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May, became the first woman ever to run the distance in under 16 seconds, surpassing Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s previous mark of 16.23 seconds.
Having represented Nigeria throughout her career, Ofili reflected on her journey and the significance of this transition:
“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions. Racing back-to-back across amazing cities and learning from the best has been incredible. As some of you have heard, I’m also starting a new chapter representing Türkiye.
“I’m proud to have represented Nigeria for many years with great success, six gold medals, two silver, two bronze in championship meets, and a 200m Olympic final appearance, despite the heartbreak of two Olympic disappointments in Tokyo and Paris.”