Francis Obikwelu

Francis Obikwelu , born the November 22nd 1978 with the Nigeria, is a Athlète Portuguese, evolving/moving on the sprint, specialized on the 100m and especially the 200m. He is the current holder of the European record of the 100m with 9,86s.

After having taken part with the Nigeria in the championships of the world junior which proceed in Portugal, it decides to remain to live with Lisbon. It lives there as clandestine. Initially refused in the clubs of athletics, it joined CF Belenenses after having worked in the building.

It renews contact with its country of origin. It is thus selected for the Olympic Games 1996 with Atlanta, then for the championships of the world junior of Sydney in 1996 when it gains the two titles of the 100 and 200 meters. It still contributes for its country of origin, obtaining medals at the time of the Championnats of the world of athletics 1997 with Athens then with the Championnats of the world of athletics 1999 with Seville.

Wounded with the meniscus with the Olympic Games 2000 with Sydney, it is given up by its federation which regards it as finished. It decides to run for its fatherland of adoption and he becomes Portuguese citizen in 2001.

He becomes vice-champion of Europe 2002 with Munich and recovers the championship after downgrading of Dwain Chambers for doping. But it undergoes a new wound at the time of the Championnats of the world of athletics 2003 with Paris Saint-Denis with a sciatica and fails the first turn.

After a change of trainer, who makes it work less to relieve a body martyrized by his work out of building and to work his technique in a different way, it obtains a money medal at the time of the Olympic Games 2004 with Athens. At the Championships of Europe 2006 with Gothenburg (Sweden) it preserves its title on 100m and carries out one doubled extremely rare by also removing the 200m.