African Games 2023: Abeiku Jackson Wins Ghana’s First Ever Medal in Swimming

• Abeiku Jackson etched his name in Ghana's history books at the 2023 African Games
• He became Ghana's first medalist in swimming in the history of the multisport event
• The young swimmer managed a podium finish after several misses by the host country

Abeiku Gyekye Jackson made history for Ghana by securing the nation's first swimming medal at the ongoing 2023 African Games in Accra.

The 23-year-old claimed the silver medal in the men's 50m butterfly event, showcasing his talent and determination.

Jackson finished closely behind Egypt’s Khalafalla Ali while also surpassing Jaden Eaton from South Africa with an impressive time of 24.23 seconds, as cited by Joy News.

As Ghana's standout swimmer, Jackson has been a beacon of hope in a sport dominated by powerhouses like South Africa and Egypt.

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His achievement at the Borteyman Aquatic Centre was met with enthusiastic applause from the spectators, providing a moment of pride and celebration for the home crowd.

According to Ghanaweb, Jackson's time of 24.23 seconds was his personal best in the event.

How Abeiku won Ghana's first medal in swimming

Abeiku wasn't the sole Ghanaian contender in the event, as Harry Stacey also took part in the same race.

Starting from lane 5, Jackson initially had a slower reaction time compared to his competitors.

However, drawing from his wealth of experience in various competitions and his exceptional swimming skills, he quickly made up for the initial setback.

Encouraged by the supportive crowd, Abeiku steadily closed the gap and soon found himself in a tight battle with Egypt’s Khalafalla.

Despite his impressive effort, Khalafalla's taller stature ultimately gave him the edge, allowing him to finish ahead of the Ghanaian.

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In the meantime, Nigeria's Collins Ebingha narrowly missed out on a podium finish, securing fourth place, while Stacey from Ghana claimed the fifth position.

Nigeria's Opeyori wins gold in Badminton

Meanwhile, in Badminton, Team Nigeria secured its first gold medal at the 13th edition of the African Games in Ghana, as reported by Sports Brief.

Anuoluwapo Opeyori emerged victorious in the final of the Men's Singles Badminton, defeating his fellow Nigerian, Godwin Olofua.

Despite losing the first set, the 26-year-old rallied to win the match 2-1, clinching the gold medal. Opeyori advanced to the final after a challenging 2-1 win over Ahdam Abdelhalim of Egypt.