In a historic moment for Ghana, Winnifred Ntumi has clinched gold at the 2024 Games, becoming the first Ghanaian to do so in this year’s edition.
Ntumi expressed her elation and the challenges she faced on her path to victory. According to her, “I am really happy to win the medals,” Ntumi exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.
“There was a lot of pressure on me knowing that people had had events before me, but nobody had brought a medal to Ghana.”
She said in an interview with Johnnie Hughes and Helen Ampofo on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on March 11.
Ntumi shared her mindset during the competition. “But I just had to calm down. Then when the game started and others started competing and winning medals, I was like so am I going to be the first Ghanaian to win a medal again in 2024? I was like okay. So I just calmed down just to focus on what I could do best. And God being so great, I was able to deliver for Ghana.”
Ntumi’s victory marks a significant achievement in her decorated career. “I have won a lot of medals,” she noted.
“In 2009, in Morocco for the African Games, I was the first athlete to win three bronze medals for Ghana. And this time around, it’s not bronze but rather one gold, two silver for Ghana, for the first time again.”
When asked about her sources of motivation, she credited her support system.
“I get motivations from my family, sisters, and my coaches and some of my teammates and my friends.”
Despite facing challenges in preparation, Ntumi highlighted the positive impact of the training camp.
“The preparation was not too bad,” she explained. “This time around, we had a good long time on campus for the first time. So, I think through that camp, it made us excel more.”
However, Ntumi did not shy away from addressing the difficulties encountered during the Games.
“Myself, I even experienced it. I had to use my old Joanna, my old jersey to compete. And even when they brought the things as they give it to you a day before your competition. It is very bad. Especially with the boot, they took our sizes but when I had my weight lifting, they gave me size 40 instead of 38.”
Despite these challenges, Ntumi’s resilience and determination prevailed, securing a historic victory for Ghana on the global stage. As she basks in the glory of her triumph, Ntumi’s journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes across the nation.
By Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi