Yemisi Ogunleye: university championships 'opened the door' to Olympic Gold

With a throw of exactly 20 metres, shot putter Yemisi Ogunleye claimed one of Germany's most surprising gold medals at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris. It was the culmination of an impressive explosion in performance over the past year and a half, which began at the 2023 German University Championships (DHM) in Darmstadt.

There, on 18 May 2023, she set a new personal best of 18.20 metres, which she improved to 18.53 metres just two days later.

Ogunleye has fond memories: "It was the beginning of the summer season. We had just come from a training camp where I had seen how fit I really was. I gave it my all in Darmstadt and that opened the door for everything that followed.”

Ogunleye went on to qualify for the World Championships in Budapest and then won silver at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in 2024 and bronze at the European Championships in Rome, just two months before the Olympics.

Ogunleye balances competitive sport and studies

Despite her recent successes, the University Championships still hold a special place in the athlete's heart.

“Competitions like this are very important,” the 26-year-old says. “It was so idyllic at the DHM. The shot-put ring was a little lower, the spectators were up on the hill, and that took some of the pressure off me.”

Throughout her journey, Ogunleye has been thankful for the support of Heidelberg University of Education, from where she has now graduated with a bachelor's degree in special education.

“I was allowed to postpone exams or write during training camps,” she says. “I'm incredibly grateful to have had that support, but I know it's not the same for other athletes. Not all studies can be combined with sport in this way. There's still a lot of catching up to do.”

Ogunleye recalls the strain of having to go to lectures or straight home after training to catch up on the course material.

“Now that I've finished my studies, I realise that I have a few more grains left to put into training," she says. “(But) if something goes wrong - and unfortunately in sport that can happen very quickly - I have a certain amount of protection. That has always been very important to me.”

Ogunleye looking forward to Rhine-Ruhr 2025

Ogunleye's main focus for next is the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September. Already over the age limit, she will not be able to compete at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games two months before but is nevertheless looking forward to the event.

“It's great that it's taking place in Germany,” she says. “It will attract a lot of people. It's also an important step for the athletes to take part in such competitions, gain experience and compete against international rivals.”