Profile of Mary Onyeali Omagbemi

Mary Onyeali

Mary Onyali-Omagbemi (born February 3, 1968) is a Nigerian sprinter who won the bronze medal in 4x100 metres relay at the 1992 Summer Olympics and in 200 metres at the 1996 Summer Olympics. She also won the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

She performed especially well in the All-Africa Games, winning a total of 7 individual medals in the short sprints. She won 100 metres in 1991, 1995 and 2003 and took a bronze medal in 1987. Gold medals in 200 metres were taken in 1987, 1995 and 2003. Furthermore, the Nigerian 4x100m relay team won all races between 1987 and 2003, at the African Games.

Born Mary Onyali, she took the name Omagbemi when marrying Victor Omagbemi. She is very inspirational for many people.

Her consecutive Olympic appearances from 1988 to 2004 made her the first Nigerian to compete at five Olympics. This feat was equalled by table tennis players Bose Kaffo and Segun Toriola four years later in Beijing, PR China.

Career Highlights
Mary Onyali-Omagbemi has truly made a name for herself in the track and field world, establishing several prestigious marks on the way. Popularly called the Queen of Nigerian sprints, Mary continues to hold the Nigerian 200 meters record, and is still ranked in the top 10 of the collegiate all time list in both the 100 and 200 meters.

Onyali-Omagbemi dominated Nigerian sprints in the 80's and the early 90's. During her career spanning two decades she won 19 medals of all colors for Nigeria. She retired after the 2003 All Africa Games where she capped it all with gold.

She would be remembered for her heroic effort at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics Games where she fought tooth and nail to win her first individual Olympic medal in the women 200m event.

Political Appointment
She served as a member of the Sports Thematic Group of the Vision 20:2020 appointed by the late president, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yardua to fashion ways to make Nigeria's sports rank among the best 20 in the world.