UGWUNWA Flora

Nigeria
Athletics
26 Jun 1984
37
Female
F54
ONITSHA
 
Nigeria
BENIN CITY
 
Nigeria

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
ATH Athletics Women's Shot Put - F54 6
Women's Javelin Throw - F54 1 Gold Medal

Records

Record Event Mark Date Location

Schedule

Change
Start Time Location Event Status
Olympic Stadium - Seated Shot Put
Women's Shot Put - F54 Final
Finished
Olympic Stadium - Seated Javelin
Women's Javelin Throw - F54 Final
Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

:
RankEventYearLocationResult
Paralympic Games
1Javelin Throw - F542016Rio de Janeiro, BRA20.25
6Discus Throw - F552016Rio de Janeiro, BRA19.03
World Championships
2Javelin Throw - F542019Dubai, UAE18.38
5Discus Throw - F552015Doha, QAT19.27
6Shot Put - F542019Dubai, UAE6.84
13Discus Throw - F552019Dubai, UAE15.84
:
Singing, reading, cooking, bread making, travelling. (Facebook profile, 17 Aug 2021; Athlete, 11 Nov 2019)
:
Athlete
:
Business - Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
:
Husband Ekurede Charles Osaretin
:
English
:
Edo State Sports Commission [Benin City, NGR]
:
Patrick Anaeto [national], NGR
:
2015 for Nigeria (Athlete, 11 Nov 2019)
:
In the lead-up to the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, she almost lost her place in the Nigerian team for the Games due to a medical issue. "While we were in camp the secretary told them to decamp me because I had a medical challenge and bring someone else. But I kept believing, and when I was finally cleared to compete I gave it my all and that's how I won [in the F54 javelin]. It's one of the best experiences of my career." (brila.net, 12 Feb 2021)
:
She took up Para athletics in 2011 in Edo State, Nigeria. (Athlete, 11 Nov 2019)
:
"I wanted to prove there is ability in disability." (Athlete, 11 Nov 2019)
:
To win gold and set a world record at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (makingofchamps.com, 08 Mar 2021; brila.net, 12 Feb 2021)
:
Winning gold in the F54 javelin at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (makingofchamps.com, 08 Mar 2021; Athlete, 11 Nov 2019)
:
Nigerian sprinter Mary Onyali-Omagbemi. (Athlete, 11 Nov 2019)
:
Her husband. (Facebook profile, 25 Jul 2021; Athlete, 11 Nov 2019)
:
"Win them all, never lose hope." (Athlete, 24 Oct 2015)

General Interest

Classification
F54 (IPC, 19 Aug 2021)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (Athlete, 08 Nov 2019)

Impairment Details
She has paraplegia as a result of the effects of polio. (brila.net, 12 Feb 2021; Athlete, 08 Nov 2019, 24 Oct 2015)

General
HUSBAND'S SUPPORT
She credits the role of her husband Ekurede Charles Osaretin in her career. He quit his job in order to help her train. "As the saying goes, 'Behind every successful man is a woman', but for me behind every successful woman is a man. My husband did everything for me to be happy. When he noticed the challenges I was facing, as I was being sidelined for athletes I was better than, he quit his job and started training with me. He wasn't into sports but things worked out well when we started working together." (brila.net, 12 Feb 2021)

OUT OF COMPETITION
After the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she won gold, she did not compete again at international level until the 2019 Grand Prix event in Tunis, Tunisia. She also did not compete internationally between the 2019 World Championships and 2021, and she says a lack of funding was partly the reason for her time away from competition. "For someone to stay away from international competition for two years is not good. But all this talk of no money isn't helping. The worst part is that there is no endorsement, because if we had endorsements, the companies would be the ones sponsoring us for these competitions." (makingofchamps.com, 08 Mar 2021)

REPRESENTATIVE
In 2019 she began to serve as a female athletes' representative in the Nigeria Paralympic Committee. (brila.net, 12 Feb 2021; guardian.ng, 25 Jan 2019; thetidenewsonline.com, 18 Jan 2019)

Legend
:
Gold Medal
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
Content 1 (removed through CDN)
Content 2 (removed through CDN).
Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos