Maria Usifo
Nigerian hurdler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Usifo (born 1 August 1964) is a Nigerian athlete and former Olympian who represented Nigeria at Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988) Olympic Games.[1] She specialized in the 100 and 400 metres hurdles.[2] She is one of the female athletes in Nigerian sports history who dominated athletic events both at national and international levels.[3]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's athletics | ||
Representing  Nigeria | ||
| African Championships | ||
 | 1984 Rabat | 100 m hurdles |
| 1985 Cairo | 100 m hurdles |
| 1985 Cairo | 4×400 m |
| 1988 Annaba | 100 m hurdles |
| 1988 Annaba | 400 m hurdles |
| 1989 Lagos | 400 m hurdles |
 | 1985 Cairo | 400 m hurdles |
Career in sports
Usifo started her career in sports in Nigeria in the 1970s when the school sports system was functional. She was a former hurdler and quarter-miler whose athletic opened opportunities for her to choose from 10 foreign universities after her outstanding performance at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia in 1982. She participated in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988.[4] Usifo was All-Africa Games Gold medallist and African Championships Gold medallist.[5]
In 1986, Usifo became the first Texas Southern Tigers track and field athlete to win an individual NCAA DI title, in the 400 m hurdles.[6]
International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Nigeria | |||||
| 1987 | All-Africa Games | Nairobi, Kenya | 1st | 100 m hurdles | 13.29 |
| 1st | 400 m hurdles | 55.72 | |||
- 1989 African Championships - gold medal (400 m h)
- 1988 African Championships - gold medal (100 m h)
- 1988 African Championships - gold medal (400 m h)
- 1985 African Championships - gold medal (100 m h)
- 1985 African Championships - silver medal (400 m h)
- 1984 African Championships - gold medal (100 m h)
