Nigerian high jumper Temitope Adeshina has emphasized that she is not under pressure to break new records this season, as she prioritizes strong performances for Nigeria and in the NCAA. The 27-year-old, who holds the national high jump record both indoors and outdoors, is entering her third collegiate season with a focus on consistent execution rather than specific heights.
After setting national records in 2024 and claiming her first NCAA title in 2025, Adeshina has experienced a mix of highs and lows in major competitions, including her Olympic debut in Paris 2024. Despite aiming for 2.05m last season, physical challenges limited her progress. She now seeks steady improvement and impactful results in key championships.
“The last two years have been really great,” she said. “It was full of ups and downs because I nailed some events but couldn’t meet expectations in others too. This time around, I am not putting myself under pressure. I want to focus on my execution steadily, and I know the results will come, either in the NCAA or for the country.”
Adeshina started the new season positively, winning the Corky Classic with a jump of 1.93m. She previously set her personal best of 1.97m at the Big 12 Championships in Kansas in May 2025, and her NCAA Indoor Championship victory in March 2025 made her the first Nigerian to win an NCAA high jump title.
As only the second Nigerian woman to compete in the Olympics high jump, following Doreen Amata, Adeshina continues to carve her place in the nation’s athletics history while keeping her focus on sustainable growth and performance consistency.
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