Nigerian Athlete announces retirement aged 21 after Paris Olympics disappointment

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American-born Nigerian athlete Dubem Amene has announced his retirement from athletics at the age of 21. The decision comes in the wake of the disqualification of Nigeria’s men’s 4x400m relay team from the Paris 2024 Olympics final.

Amene, who competed alongside Ifeanyi Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathaniel, and Chidi Okezie, was part of the Nigerian quartet that had secured a spot in the final by finishing second in their heat with a Season’s Best time of 2:59.81. Unfortunately, the team’s chance to compete in the final was dashed due to a lane infringement by Ojeli during the first leg.

Despite this setback, Amene is stepping away from the sport to pursue a career in finance. Having fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming an Olympian, he is ready to transition to the next chapter of his life.

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Dubem Amene, who graduated with a degree in Economics from the University of Michigan in June, began representing Nigeria in 2021. He was part of the mixed 4x400m relay team at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, where they reached the semifinals. Additionally, Amene and his team finished sixth in the mixed relay at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon and was a two-time African Championships finalist.

With a personal best of 45.36 seconds—third fastest by a Nigerian this season—Amene has been one of the country’s most consistent quarter-milers in 2024. His retirement marks the end of a promising athletic career, as he turns his focus towards new professional goals.