Wrestling · Wrestlers · No. 1
Blessing Oborududu
The Bayelsa wrestler who won Nigeria’s first Olympic wrestling medal.
- 2020Olympic silver
- 4Olympic Games
- 2Commonwealth golds
- 12African titles
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Blessing Oborududu in our words
Blessing Oborududu is a Nigeria freestyle wrestler born on the 12th of March 1989 in Gbanranu, Southern Region of Bayelsa state, Nigeria. She competed in the freestyle 63 kg at the 2012 Summer Olympics but lost in the round of 16 to Monika Michalik of Poland.
Blessing has competed in several lose-and-win competitions. She made the country proud in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in the women’s middleweight.
In 2016, during the Summer Olympics, she competed in the women’s middleweight division but lost to Soronzonboldyn Battsetseg in the second round.
At the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, she won a gold medal for the women’s 63kg category. also in the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast, she won a gold medal in the 68kg women’s freestyle wrestling event, defeating Danielle Lappage of Canada.
Silver in Tokyo
At Tokyo 2020, held in August 2021, Oborududu won three bouts to reach the final of the women’s freestyle 68 kg, where she lost to Tamyra Mensah-Stock of the USA. Her silver was Nigeria’s first ever Olympic medal in wrestling.
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Commonwealth Games, Delhi (63 kg) | Silver |
| 2012 | London Olympics (63 kg) | Round of 16 |
| 2014 | Commonwealth Games, Glasgow (63 kg) | Bronze |
| 2015 | African Games, Brazzaville (63 kg) | Gold |
| 2016 | Rio Olympics | First round |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast (68 kg) | Gold, beat Danielle Lappage (Canada) |
| 2021 | Tokyo 2020 Olympics (68 kg) | Silver: Nigeria’s first Olympic wrestling medal |
| 2022 | Commonwealth Games, Birmingham (68 kg) | Gold |
| 2024 | African Games, Accra (68 kg) | Gold |
| 2024 | Paris Olympics (68 kg) | 5th, lost bronze bout |
Queen of Africa
Born in Gbanranu, Bayelsa State, on 12 March 1989, Oborududu has been African champion around a dozen times since 2010, and competed at four Olympic Games (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024). At Paris 2024 she reached the bronze medal bout and finished fifth.
Oborududu retired in May 2025, winning her final bout at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, 19 years after her first appearance at the festival. She has since moved into coaching, and she was named an IOC Athlete Role Model for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
More Nigerian wrestling
Wrestling in Nigeria
Africa’s wrestling powerhouse.Read more
History of wrestling in Nigeria
From village contests to Power Mike and Olympic silver.Read more
Olympics, Commonwealth and African Games
Every Commonwealth medal and Nigeria’s African dominance.Read more
Nigerian wrestlers
Oborududu, Adekuoroye, Genesis, Igali and more.Read more
Quick answers
Blessing Oborududu: quick answers
What did Blessing Oborududu win at the Olympics?
Silver in the women’s freestyle 68 kg at Tokyo 2020, Nigeria’s first Olympic wrestling medal. She was fifth at Paris 2024.
Has Blessing Oborududu retired?
Yes. She retired in May 2025 after winning her final bout at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, and has moved into coaching.
Where is Blessing Oborududu from?
Gbanranu in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, where she was born on 12 March 1989.
How many Commonwealth golds has Blessing Oborududu won?
Two, both at 68 kg: Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. She also won silver in 2010 and bronze in 2014.