GENERAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
January
16, 1993
Country of Birth: Nigeria
Nationality: Bahrain
Event: 400 Hurdles, 400m
Sponsor: Nike
BACKGROUND:
Owulakemi known as Kemi started her career as a junior athlete in Nigeria. She was a top junior and competed at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona but was injured. She moved to Bahrain and became a citizen in 2014. In her 1st year as a performer for Bahrain, Kemi surprised the world by winning the Doha Diamond League 400 hurdles race from lane 1 in a Bahrain and area record time of 54.59 seconds. She followed that up with a 2nd place finish at the Oslo Diamond League event. She then came in 3rd at the IAAF Continental Cup in Marrakech, Morocco further showing the world that she was one of the top young 400 hurdlers in the world. She culminated the 2014 season by winning gold at the 2014 Asian Games in the 400 hurdles and 400m race. The double gold and her performances in 2014 earned her a world ranking of number 3 in the world in her first professional year.
Kemi has continued to improve and in 2015 she has already won the Asian Championships Gold in the 400 hurdles in a new personal best time of 54.31. That did not last long as she improved her area and country record in Paris St. Denis Diamond league on July 4, 2015 finishing 3rd in a new PB of 54.12. She has since followed that PB with a new PB in the open 400 by finishing 2nd in Lucerne, Switzerland in a new Area and country record of 50.86 seconds.
PROGRESSION
400 Meter
2015 50.86 Luzern, July14, 2015
2014 51.11 Incheon, September 27, 2014
2013 52.57 Port Harcour, May 18, 2013
400 Hurdles
2015 54.12 Paris
Saint-Denis (Stade de France), July 4, 2015
2014 54.59 Doha, May 9, 2014
2013 55.30 Warri, June 14, 2013
2012 57.16 Warri, June 14, 2012