Nigerian Wrestler Esther Kolawole wins gold at Spanish grand prix


Nigeria’s wrestling sensation, Esther Kolawole, has won a gold medal at the Spanish Wrestling Grand Prix.

 

The 23-year-old claimed her gold medal after defeating American wrestler Haylie Jaffe 10-0 by superiority in the final in Madrid on Saturday, July 6.

 

Kolawole, a Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier, displayed remarkable dominance throughout the tournament. She breezed past Spain’s Lydia Perez 10-0 in the quarter-finals and followed it up with a gritty 4-1 semifinal victory over Poland’s Alicja Nowosad before capping it off with an emphatic win over Jaffe.

 

This gold marks a major progression for Kolawole, who won bronze at the same competition in 2023. Her latest triumph is a testament to her continued development and growing presence on the global stage.

 

The African champion is using the Spanish Grand Prix—held from July 4 to 7—as a preparatory event ahead of the World Wrestling Ranking Series scheduled for July 14 in Budapest, Hungary. Both tournaments are part of her build-up to the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Croatia this September.

 

Kolawole’s gold follows her previous bronze in Madrid, while compatriot Ogunsanya Christinah also secured bronze in the 53kg category.

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