2024 Olympics: From a nightmare in Tokyo to silver in Paris for Annette Echikunwoke

Annette Nneka Echikunwoke, of the United States, competes during the women’s hammer throw final. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Medal table | Olympic schedule | How to watch | Olympic news

PARIS — Three years ago, Annette Echikunwoke was ready to compete at the Tokyo Olympics for Nigeria, her parents’ native country. But then … she was disqualified.

According to Echikunwoke, the African Federation of Nigeria hadn’t submitted the proper drug testing documentation for her prior to the Games. The disqualification came on her birthday, July 29, when she was already in Tokyo, where she was scheduled to compete two days later.

“I can’t even begin to explain how heartbroken I am,” Echikunwoke wrote on Instagram following her disqualification. “It honestly feels like a fever dream. To think of all the hours of throwing sessions, hundreds of hard lifts, all the moments when my body aches in pain and reminding myself ‘it’ll be worth it’ just to keep pushing on, sacrificing time with loved ones and all I’m left with is this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.”

It wasn’t just her. A total of 10 Nigerian athletes were deemed ineligible due to an error that led to the athletes missing drug screenings.

“We cannot let anything like this happen again to athletes, devastating dreams and crushing opportunities,” Echikunwoke wrote.

Fast-forward three years and now Echikunwoke, who lives in Ohio, is competing for and, on Tuesday, winning a silver medal for the United States.

The 27-year-old threw a season-best 75.48 meters on her third throw, good enough for second behind Canada’s Camryn Rogers (76.97). China’s Zhao Jie took bronze (74.27).

“It’s redemption,” she told reporters at U.S. Track and Field Trials in June. “I’m so grateful to God for putting me in this position and helping to get to this. I knew it was coming. But I didn’t know when and how, but I was just trusting him in this process.”

The process landed her on the podium in Paris, with a silver medal wrapped around her neck.