Instead, she decided that her future lay in her birth country.

Echikunwoke made her debut at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, finishing 12th in the final.

She was a surprise winner of the 2024 US Olympic Qualifier, setting her season best of 74.86 m.

On Tuesday evening, she surpassed this mark at the Stade de France, finishing behind Canadian Camryn Rogers with a time of 75.48 m.

“I felt pretty confident coming into the competition. This is the chance of a lifetime,” said Echikunwoke.

“It’s electrifying – just being on the U.S. team, being in the final, coming into the stadium and hearing everyone being so loud.

“To be the first woman to win a medal for the United States (in the hammer throw) is truly an honor.”

“It’s really satisfying. I wanted to have this experience.”

Today, Echikunwoke is proud to have put the chapter of her career in which she could have competed under the Nigerian flag behind her.

“I knew even then that there were more and more,” she said.

“I have forgiven the past and we just move on.”

A representative of the Nigerian sports minister declined to comment on their success.

“We are now focusing on our own athletes, not those representing another country,” the spokesman told BBC Sport Africa.

The AFN did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment on Echikunwoke’s silver medal.