The United States has officially announced that Nigerian-American athletes Annette Echikunwoke and Keturah Orji are part of their 120 athletes selected for the athletics events at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
Echikunwoke, who will be making her Olympic debut, switched her allegiance to the United States in 2022 after facing disqualification from representing Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to administrative issues. She holds the African area record in the hammer throw and has set multiple Nigerian and African records, achieving a notable mark of 75.49m at the USATF Throws Festival in May 2021.
Orji, entering her third Olympic appearance, aims to improve upon her previous fourth and seventh place finishes to secure a podium spot. She has exclusively represented the USA throughout her career.
Both athletes will compete under the American flag in Paris, with Echikunwoke bringing her prowess in hammer throw to the fore, previously unreachable in her native Nigeria.
USA team for Paris
WOMEN
100m: Melissa Jefferson, Sha’Carri Richardson, Twanisha Terry
200m: Brittany Brown, McKenzie Long, Gabby Thomas
400m: Aaliyah Butler, Kendall Ellis, Alexis Holmes
800m: Nia Akins, Juliette Whittaker, Allie Wilson
1500m: Nikki Hiltz, Emily Mackay, Elle St. Pierre
5000m: Elise Cranny, Whittni Morgan, Karissa Schweizer
10,000m: Weini Kelati, Karissa Schweizer, Parker Valby
Marathon: Dakotah Lindwurm, Fiona O’Keeffe, Emily Sisson
3000m steeplechase: Valerie Constien, Marisa Howard, Courtney Wayment
100m hurdles: Alaysha Johnson, Masai Russell, Grace Stark
400m hurdles: Anna Cockrell, Jasmine Jones , Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
High jump: Vashti Cunningham, Rachel Glenn
Pole vault: Brynn King, Katie Moon, Bridget Williams
Long jump: Tara Davis-Woodhall, Jasmine Moore, Monae’ Nichols
Triple jump: Tori Franklin, Jasmine Moore, Keturah Orji
Shot put: Chase Jackson, Jaida Ross, Raven Saunders
Discus: Valarie Allman, Veronica Fraley, Jayden Ulrich
Hammer: Annette Echikunwoke, DeAnna Price, Erin Reese
Javelin: Maggie Malone Hardin
Heptathlon: Taliyah Brooks, Anna Hall, Chari Hawkins
Relay pool (additional athletes): Kaylyn Brown, Tamari Davis, Quanera Hayes, Aleia Hobbs, Shamier Little, Isabella Whittaker
MEN
100m: Kenny Bednarek, Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles
200m: Kenny Bednarek, Erriyon Knighton, Noah Lyles
400m: Chris Bailey, Quincy Hall, Michael Norman
800m: Bryce Hoppel, Hobbs Kessler, Brandon Miller
1500m: Cole Hocker, Hobbs Kessler, Yared Nuguse
5000m: Graham Blanks, Grant Fisher, Abdihamid Nur
10,000m: Grant Fisher, Woody Kincaid, Nico Young
Marathon: Leonard Korir, Conner Mantz, Clayton Young
3000m steeplechase: James Corrigan, Kenneth Rooks, Matthew Wilkinson
110m hurdles: Freddie Crittenden, Grant Holloway, Daniel Roberts
400m hurdles: CJ Allen, Trevor Bassitt, Rai Benjamin
High jump: JuVaughn Harrison, Shelby McEwen, Vernon Turner
Pole vault: Sam Kendricks, Chris Nilsen, Jacob Wooten
Long jump: Malcolm Clemons, Jeremiah Davis, Jarrion Lawson
Triple jump: Salif Mane, Russell Robinson, Donald Scott
Shot put: Ryan Crouser, Joe Kovacs, Payton Otterdahl
Discus: Joseph Brown, Andrew Evans, Sam Mattis
Hammer: Daniel Haugh, Rudy Winkler
Javelin: Curtis Thompson
Decathlon: Heath Baldwin, Harrison Williams, Zach Ziemek
Relay pool (additional athletes): Christian Coleman, Bryce Deadmon, Kyree King, Courtney Lindsey, Vernon Norwood, Quincy Wilson (Nation)