A rollercoaster journey in hammer-throwing, dotted with heartbreak and redemption that any track and field fan can’t help but root for. As a Nigerian-American athlete, she’s carved out a name in the niche world of hammer throw, where brute strength meets precision. After a standout collegiate career, she faced a pivotal choice: which flag to carry on the global stage? Her story, shared candidly in an interview with Erik Kynard Jr. on USA Track & Field’s YouTube channel, is one of resilience. But what drove her to choose Nigeria initially?

Growing up with dual heritage, Annette Echikunwoke saw Nigeria as a strategic move. “When I was considering what I wanted to do post-collegiately or what team I wanted to represent, just knowing I had the option to represent Nigeria, I was like, okay, really I want to give myself the best outcome,” she said.

Nigeria’s hammer-throwing field was less crowded than the stacked U.S. roster, offering a clearer path to Olympic glory. Despite her parents’ warnings about Nigeria’s government-run athletics system, she took the leap, eager to compete. But would her gamble pay off?

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics brought a gut punch. Administrative failures by Nigeria’s athletics federation led to her disqualification, along with nine other athletes, due to unannounced drug tests. “And then went to Tokyo in 2021, didn’t get to compete there, just due to technical issues with admin and drug testing,” she explained.

“It was really devastating… you train all your life, train all this time to be on the biggest stage, and then that’s taken away from you.” The dismissal from Nigeria’s federation stung, leaving her questioning her path. Could she recover from such a setback?

Yet, that heartbreak was, as she put it, “a blessing in disguise.” The disqualification freed her to switch to Team USA without a three-year wait. After talks with her coach, she made the call: “Let’s go for the US. And best decision I’ve made for sure.” Fast forward to Paris 2024, and Echikunwoke clinched a historic silver medal in women’s hammer throw, Team USA’s first in the event. Her journey from despair to the podium is pure inspiration. What’s next for this trailblazer? Yet she’s not the only Nigerian to switch sides.

Not only Annette Echikunwoke, a recently star Nigerian athlete, switched to Turkey

As a fan, if you feel the sting when a star like Annette Echikunwoke swaps Nigeria for Team USA, clinching a historic hammer throw silver at Paris 2024. But she’s not alone, among many other Nigerian Athletes, recently Favour Ofili, Nigeria’s sprint sensation, has reportedly followed suit, switching allegiance to Turkey. It’s a gut punch for track fans who’ve cheered Ofili’s blistering 10.93-second 100m and 21.96-second 200m personal bests. So, what’s driving these exits?

Ofili’s decision, reported by Jamaica-based journalist Kayon Raynor on June 22, 2025, stems from repeated administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). “Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has switched allegiance to Turkey as of May 31, 2025,” Raynor posted, citing her frustration with the AFN. At Tokyo 2020, Ofili was one of 14 athletes barred due to the AFN’s failure to complete mandatory drug testing for U.S.-based athletes. The heartbreak was real, she’d trained for the global stage, only to be sidelined by paperwork. But could history repeat itself?

Fast forward to Paris 2024, and it did. Despite qualifying for the 100m, Ofili wasn’t registered, forcing her to compete only in the 200m, where she finished sixth in 22.24 seconds. She also ran in the 4×100m relay, clocking a season-best 42.70 seconds, but the team didn’t advance. These blunders, along with mouthwatering monetary benefits, pushed her to Turkey, joining a list of Nigerians like Gloria Alozie (Spain) and Francis Obikwelu (Portugal) who’ve switched nations. Will Nigeria’s athletics system learn before more stars jump ship?