Black sportswomen to watch at the Olympics

The 2020/21 Olympic Games are here, so I want to share some Black sportswomen to watch from around the world. Especially athletes from countries and in sports that I don't normally hear about or can easily watch.

These are sportswomen I'm excited to watch, but I’ve also included Black those that have been suggested by recent guests on our YouTube channel, Júlia Belas and Janine Anthony (video coming soon).

Of course, I’m excited to see what many Black women athletes do in track & field, basketball & football. But I also want to advantage of this opportunity to watch sports I don’t typically watch – like judo & boxing.

There’s both Christine Ongare and Catherine Nanziri in the flyweight boxing category and Jucielen Romeu & Ramla Ali could meet in the featherweight semifinals – but more on this below.

Below are some athletes and delegations to watch. For each, I linked an article or where to find more information on each athlete along with their next competition date, if it was available.

How to support The Black Sportswoman

Brazil (Júlia Belas) – watch our conversation here

Etiene Medeiros - swimming, women’s 50 freestyle (July 30)

Formiga - football (July 24)

Jucielen Romeu - featherweight boxing (July 26)

Ludmila - football (July 24)

Take a look at the full Brazilian delegation for the Olympics.

Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia (Janine Anthony)

Ese Brume - long jump

Blessing Okagbare - 100m, 200m, 4x100

Odunayo Adekuoroye - wrestling

Tobi Amusan - 100m hurdles

^ These three have been named the three Nigerian women most likely to medal. Take a look at the full Nigerian delegation for the Olympics.

Somalia:

Ramla Ali - featherweight boxing (July 26)

Kenya:

Brigid Kosgei - women’s marathon world record holder

Ruth Chepngetich - set record in half marathon, another favorite in marathon

^ Majority of Kenya’s delegation this year features sportswomen, including rugby, volleyball and taekwondo athletes. Take a look at the Kenya delegation at the Olympics.

Various (Bria)

Christine Ongare (Kenya, flyweight) - July 25

Catherine Nanziri (Uganda, flyweight boxing) - first Ugandan boxer at Olympics

Sharon Chepchumba (Kenya, volleyball) -  July 25

Barbra Banda (Zambia, football) - July 25

Uganda at a glance: The country sent 13 women to the Olympics, mostly in track & field but one each in rowing, swimming, and boxing.

Ghana sent two women to the Olympics, Nadia Eke in triple jump and Unilez Takyi in women’s 50 swimming freestyle.

While most – almost all – of Jamaica’s women Olympians this year in track & field, Ebony Drysdale-Daley (judo, July 28), Danusia Francis (gymnastics, July 25) and Alia Atkinson (swimming, July 25) are three to watch.

Hope this was helpful and sparked some ideas for any events or athletes to watch over the next month. If you like this post, share it with a friend.