Annette Nneka Echikunwoke switched countries to USA, gets silver in hammer throw

Annette Nneka Echikunwoke of the United States, celebrates after winning the silver medal in the women's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Annette Nneka Echikunwoke was set to participate in the women’s hammer throw at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for Nigeria but a federation error concern drug testing left her unable to compete or even walk in the opening ceremony.

Three years later, Echikunwoke switched countries to the United States and picked up a silver medal at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday. She was the first American woman to earn a medal in the event.

“I think (this medal) could have happened three years ago, but I’m happy it’s happening now,” Echikunwoke said. “I feel like everything happens for a reason, even if it’s bad or good or ugly or whatever the case may be. This is beautiful.”

Echikunwoke’s application to change countries was approved right in time for the 2022 U.S. Nationals and she earned a spot in the World Championships that year.

“It doesn’t feel real right now,” she said. ”I can’t really put it into words."