HEROES OF NIGERIAN WRESTLING*
The 3rd Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classics is set to take place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from November 3 to 10, 2024.
This exciting event will gather over 800 athletes and 200 officials, highlighting Nigeria’s rich wrestling talent and fostering sportsmanship across the nation.
Spotlight on DANIEL BARALADEI IGALI
*_DANIEL BARALADEI IGALI_*
Daniel Baraladei Igali born February 3, 1974 is a Nigerian-Canadian wrestler. He won Canada’s first ever Olympic gold medal in wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympics and remains Canada’s only male Olympic gold medalist in wrestling.
Igali enrolled at Douglas College before transferring to Simon Fraser University to study criminology. He represented SFU from 1997 to 1999, winning three straight NAIA Championships and finishing with a 116-0 record in collegiate wrestling.
Additionally, Igali earned All-American honours three times and the two Gorriaran Awards (1997, 1999) for most pins in the least total time.
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Igali won a gold medal for men’s 69 kg freestyle wrestling. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Igali won a gold medal in the Men’s 74 kg freestyle wrestling.
In 2007, Igali was inducted into the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was later inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2012. He is also inducted into the world wrestling hall of fame.
Igali became president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation in 2013.
In September 2022, Igali was elected as a board member of UWW (United World Wrestling) for a six year term.
Hon Igali is currently the commissioner for Sports Development in Bayelsa State.
Join us in celebrating this incredible event and honouring our wrestling heroes!
