Nigeria’s wrestling powerhouse, Esther Kolawole, has made the nation proud once again by clinching a gold medal at the Spanish Wrestling Grand Prix in Madrid! The 23-year-old Olympic-bound superstar dominated the mat, defeating American wrestler Haylie Jaffe 10-0 in the final on Saturday, July 6.
Kolawole blazed through the competition, crushing Spain’s Lydia Perez 10-0 in the quarterfinal and battling her way past Poland’s Alicja Nowosad 4-1 in the semis. This victory marks a major leap from her 2023 bronze at the same event, showcasing her phenomenal growth on the global stage.
Currently preparing for the World Wrestling Ranking Series in Budapest (July 14) and the 2025 World Championships in Croatia, Kolawole’s triumph in Spain sets the tone for an explosive season ahead. Fellow Nigerian, Ogunsanya Christinah, also made headlines with a bronze in the 53kg category.
Nigeria’s women in wrestling are UNSTOPPABLE!
