Nigerian-born Bahraini athlete Salwa Eid Naser gave the rest of her competitors a taste of what to expect as she cruised into the final of the women’s 400-metre in the Paris 2024 Olympics on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, born Ebele Agbapuonwu in Anambra State, Nigeria, clocked a season’s best (SB) time of 49.08 seconds in Heat 1 of the semifinal to progress to the final of the event.
Naser finished ahead of Ireland’s Rashidat Adeleke, who is also of Nigerian heritage. Adeleke secured the second automatic spot into the final in a time of 49.95s. Norway’s Henrietter Jaeger finished third in a time of 50.17s to also qualify.
49.08 ⏱️
🇧🇭’s 2019 400m world champ Salwa Eid Naser dominates the 1st 400m semifinal.#Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/0KN1Hk7aTc
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 7, 2024
The 2019 world champion ran the fastest time across board in the semifinals and will be looking to get her hands on a medal in the final after missing the Tokyo 2020 Games, following a two-year ban for breaching anti-doping rules.
Meanwhile, reigning world champion in the event, Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino, also secured a spot in the final with a time of 49.21s to win Heat 2 in the semifinals ahead of American Alexia Holmes (50.00s).
The other three finalists include Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek, who crossed the finish line first in Heat 3 in a time of 49.95s, ahead of Great Britain’s Amber Anning, who secured a new personal best time of 49.47, and Sada Williams of Barbados (49.89s).
The final of the event will take place on Friday, August 9, at the Stade de France at 8:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. Nigerian time).
FULL LIST OF WOMEN’S 400M FINALISTS
Salwa Eid Naser – Bahrain
Rashidat Adeleke – Ireland
Henrietter Jaeger – Norway
Marileidy Paulino – Dominican Republic
Alexia Holmes – United States
Natalia Kaczmarek – Poland
Amber Anning – Great Britain’s
Sada Williams – Barbados
