Event: 22nd National Sports Festival
Segment: Deaf Athletics
Location: Abeokuta, Ogun State
Date: May 23–30, 2025
🥇 Total Medals Won by Bayelsa Deaf Athletes:
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100m Men | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| 200m Men | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| 400m Men | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| 800m Men | — | — | — | — (7th place) |
| Javelin Men | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Shot Put Men | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 100m Women | — | — | — | (5th place) |
| 200m Women | — | — | — | (DNS) |
| 400m Women | — | — | — | (7th place) |
| 800m Women | — | — | — | (DNS) |
| Javelin Women | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Shot Put Women | — | — | — | (5th place) |
Total Medal Count:
- 🥇 Gold: 4
- 🥈 Silver: 1
- 🥉 Bronze: 1
- 🎯 Overall Total: 6 Medals
📊 Performance Insights
- Top Performer:
- Taramau-Tare Orderly dominated with 3 gold medals in 100m, 200m, and 400m.
- Field Events Impact:
- Gold in Men’s Javelin (Nwosu Jerry A) and Bronze in Shot Put Men shows emerging strength in throws.
- Female Athletes:
- Royal Favour, Bayelsa’s representative, competed in multiple events but struggled to reach podium finishes.
- Notable silver medal in Javelin Women by Opuene Blessing Kenibo.
🧭 Planning Recommendations for Future Competitions
- Investment in Women’s Coaching & Conditioning:
- Address DNS (Did Not Start) and DNF (Did Not Finish) trends among female athletes.
- Athlete Retention & Progression:
- Build athlete pathways around high performers like Taramau-Tare Orderly for international Deaflympics inclusion.
- Early Camp & Nutrition for Field Events:
- Enhance medal potential in shot put, javelin, and discus with tailored strength programs.
- Performance Monitoring:
- Introduce biometric and timing assessments pre-competition for optimal event selection.
✅ Conclusion
Bayelsa Deaf Athletics team demonstrated strong promise in sprints and field events, especially in the men’s category. With better coordination, injury management, and athlete support for women, the state has the potential to double its medal count in the next edition of the festival.
