:Funmi Oduwaiye
{{Short description|British para-athlete}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Funmi Oduwaiye
| birth_name = Oluwafunmilola Oduwaiye
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| nationality = British
| sport = Athletics
|disability_class= F64
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| pb = Shot put: 11.03m (Paris, 2023)
Discus: 33.23m (Cardiff, 2022)
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}}
Oluwafunmilola Oduwaiye is a British para-athlete who competes in the Shot put and Discus.{{cite web|url= https://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=1137942|website=Powerof10|accessdate=28 March 2024|title=Oluwafunmilola Oduwaiye}}
Early life
From Cardiff,{{cite web|url= https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-09-05/the-para-athlete-with-her-sights-set-on-team-gb-at-the-paralympic-games|website=ITV.com|accessdate=28 March 2024|title= Young Welsh Para-athlete planning to compete for Team GB at the 2024 Paralympic Games|first=Lewis Rhys|last=Jones|date=3 September 2023}} she was 11 years old when she joined Cardiff Met Archers basketball side. In 2019, she represented Wales at the Under-18 European Basketball Championships in Moldova and was named one of the players of the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.sport.wales/media-centre/latest-news/funmi-oduwaiye/|website=Sport.Wales|accessdate=28 March 2024|title= FUNMI ODUWAIYE: THE BASKETBALL STAR FINDING NEW DIRECTION IN PARALYMPIC SHOT PUT AND DISCUS|date=8 March 2024}}
Career
She took up para-athletics in 2022, following multiple surgeries to her legs. An initial surgery to try to correct Genu valgum resulted in a damaged artery, with subsequent surgeries unsuccessful.{{cite web|title=
Oduwaiye eyes Paris after basketball dream fades|date=1 December 2023|url=
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/67593075|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=28 March 2024}}{{cite web|first=Rachel|last=Steinberg|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/jonnie-peacock-cardiff-british-athletics-paris-rising-phoenix-b2456843.html|website=The Independent|title= Para thrower Funmi Oduwaiye ‘always knew I was destined for great things’|date=1 December 2023|accessdate=28 March 2024}} She was left paralysed in her right leg from the knee down.{{cite web |url= https://sportin.wales/lets-talk-funmi-oduwaiye-able-bodied-turned-great-british-para-athelete/|website=Sportin.Wales|accessdate=28 March 2024|title= LET'S TALK: FUNMI ODUWAIYE - ABLE BODIED TURNED GREAT BRITISH PARA ATHLETE}}
Competing at the Welsh Athletics Championships, she threw a new personal best in the shot put of 11.03 metres. That day, she also threw 32.26 metres in the discus.{{cite web|website=Dai Sport|accessdate=28 March 2024|url= https://www.dai-sport.com/fun-time-funmi-oduwaiye-sets-sights-on-world-para-athletics-championships-in-paris/|title= Fun Time . . . Funmi Oduwaiye Sets Sights On World Para Athletics Championships In Paris|date=1 July 2023}} In July 2023, she made her World Para Athletics Championships debut in Paris.{{cite web|first=Gareth|last=Bailey|title=Oduwaiye seeks gold on World Para-athletics debut|website=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/66068059|date=6 July 2023|accessdate=28 March 2024}} She finished sixth in the F64 discus and fourth in the F64 shot put.{{cite web|url=https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/oduwaiye-marks-world-debut-with-sixth-in-discus/|website=British Athletics|accessdate=28 March 2024|title= ODUWAIYE MARKS WORLD DEBUT WITH SIXTH IN DISCUS|date=19 July 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dai-sport.com/funmi-oduwaiye-world-para-athletics/|website=Dai Sport|accessdate=28 March 2024|first=Gareth|last=James|title= Funmi Oduwaiye Targeting Paralympic Glory In Paris After Impressive Senior Championship Bow|date=15 July 2023}}
In March 2024, she was announced as a subject of a Channel 4 documentary detailing athletes in the run-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, along with other athletes and para-athletes such as Keely Hodgkinson, Hannah Cockroft and Jake Wightman.{{cite web|url=https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/channel-4-documentary-follows-nine-gb-athletes-in-run-up-to-paris-games-1039976934/|title= Channel 4 documentary follows nine GB athletes in run-up to Paris Games|website= Athletics Weekly |date=March 28, 2024 |access-date=28 March 2024}} She finished 5th in the shot put and 8th in the discus throw.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-05 |title=Funmi Oduwaiye is already counting down the days to LA 2028 after Paralympic debut |url=https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/24566225.funmi-oduwaiye-already-counting-days-la-2028/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Braintree and Witham Times |language=en}}
References
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Category:Date of birth missing (living people)
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Athletes from Cardiff
Category:British female discus throwers
Category:British female shot putters
Category:Competitors in athletics with limb difference
Category:21st-century British sportswomen
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Paralympics