Lagos, Nigeria – October 9, 2025 – Olympic silver medalist and Nigerian sprinting icon Blessing Okagbare radiated pure joy today as she marked her 37th birthday, calling it the “best ever” thanks to sharing the milestone with her nine-month-old son, Oreofe. The former world-class athlete, who retired from professional competition in 2022 amid personal and professional challenges, posted a heartwarming Instagram photo of herself and her baby boy in matching white outfits, beaming with maternal bliss.
“Best Birthday Ever. I get to celebrate it with my Oreofe. A very blessed 37th birthday indeed. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙌🏽🙌🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽❤️❤️❤️ Lord, you have always done it for me,” Okagbare captioned the image, which has already garnered over 5,000 likes and hundreds of comments in just hours. The post, shared on her official account @mountain214, features the duo in a cozy, sunlit setting, with Okagbare cradling her son tenderly—a poignant contrast to her days dominating the track.
Born Blessing Oghnewresem Okagbare on October 9, 1988, in Sapele, Delta State, the 37-year-old has long been a beacon of Nigerian athletic excellence. She burst onto the global stage with a silver medal in the long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a bronze in the 4x100m relay at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu. Her accolades include Commonwealth Games golds in the 100m (2014), 200m (2014), and long jump (2010), as well as African records in the 200m (22.04s in 2018) that still stand as a testament to her speed and power. A versatile star in sprints and jumps, Okagbare’s career highs included a 7.00m long jump at the 2013 Monaco Diamond League and a sub-11-second 100m dash, earning her induction into multiple halls of fame and a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Motherhood, however, has ushered in a new chapter for the track queen. Okagbare and her husband, Igho Otegheri—a former professional footballer they married in 2014—welcomed their first child, Oreofe (meaning “gift of God” in Yoruba), in December 2024, just months after she quietly stepped away from the spotlight to focus on family. The couple, who have navigated highs and lows including Okagbare’s 2021 provisional suspension for a doping violation (later resolved without a ban), now embrace this phase with gratitude. “A very blessed 37th birthday indeed,” echoed fans in the comments, with one writing, “Queen B! Motherhood looks amazing on you. Happy birthday! 🥳👑.”
Social media lit up with tributes from across Nigeria’s sports community. Pulse Sports Nigeria hailed her as “a legend who keeps inspiring,” while fans on X (formerly Twitter) flooded her post with prayers and emojis, one user noting, “From the track to the nursery—still running laps around us all! Happy birthday, Blessing. Congrats on Oreofe, your greatest medal yet.” Even as she celebrates privately, Okagbare’s resilience shines through; her past birthdays, like her 35th in 2023, saw her use the platform for philanthropy, raising funds for medical causes.
Though no longer chasing Olympic dreams, Okagbare remains active in advocacy, promoting women’s sports and youth athletics through her foundation. As she enters her late 30s, this birthday—her first as a mom—symbolizes not just personal triumph but a full-circle moment of joy after years of global glory and personal trials. From all of us at Nigerian sports desks: Happy birthday, Blessing. May the next lap be your sweetest yet. 🏃♀️🎂