Francis Obikwelu

GOIH
Francis Obikwelu

Obikwelu in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Francis Obiorah Obikwelu
Nationality	Portuguese
Born	(1978-11-22) 22 November 1978 (age 38) Onitsha, Nigeria
Height	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	80 kg (180 lb)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	100 metres, 200 metres
Medal record Men's Athletics Representing  Nigeria World Junior Championships 1996 Sydney 100 m 1996 Sydney 200 m World Championships 1997 Athens 4x100 m relay 1999 Seville 200 m All-Africa Games 1999 Johannesburg 200 m Representing  Portugal Olympic Games 2004 Athens 100 m European Championships 2002 Munich 100 m 2006 Gothenburg 100 m 2006 Gothenburg 200 m 2002 Munich 200 m European Indoor Championships 2011 Paris 60 m Lusophony Games 2009 Lisbon 100 m Representing  Europe IAAF World Cup 2002 Madrid 200 m 2006 Athens 100 m 2002 Madrid 100 m

Francis Obiorah Obikwelu, GOIH (born 22 November 1978) is a Nigerian born Portuguese sprinter specializing in 100 metres and 200 metres. He obtained Portuguese citizenship in 2001. He is the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the 100 metres. From that race, he also set the European record in the event at 9.86, which has been tied twice by Jimmy Vicaut but not beaten.

Born in Onitsha, Obikwelu holds the record for the fastest time in the 100 m set by a European competitor with a time of 9.86 seconds. He finished second in the 100 m at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, the first medal ever in athletics sprinting events for Portugal. He won 100 m and 200 m in 2006 at the European Championships in Athletics and became the first athlete to win both 100 m and 200 m in the same European Championship since 1978. Kim Gevaert also succeeded in this double victory at the same Championship.

Obikwelu was voted Waterford Crystal European Male Athlete of the Year for 2006 by the European Athletic Association, in an internet poll open to member federations, media and the general public.

Obikwelu announced his retirement from competitive athletics after failing to qualify for the 100 m finals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but retracted his statement, agreeing to honour the last year of his contract with his track club. Obikwelu won the 100 m gold medal at the 2009 Lusophony Games.

At the age of 14, one of Obikwelu's football coaches in Nigeria noticed him and suggested he try out athletics. After two years he was representing Nigeria in the 1994 African Junior Championships and won the silver medal in the 400 metres.

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