Ghanaian long jumper Deborah Acquah has made history by winning a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, marking the first time a Ghanaian has medaled in the women’s long jump at the Games. While her original goal had been a silver medal, Acquah expressed pride in her achievement.
Acquah secured third place with a leap of 6.94m in the final, finishing behind Nigeria’s Ese Brume, who claimed gold with 6.99m, and Australia’s Brooke Buschkuehl, who took silver. Despite arriving in Birmingham just 48 hours before her first event, Acquah advanced confidently to the final, showcasing her resilience and determination.
Speaking on Tv3’s Warm Up+, Acquah reflected on her performance: “It’s a good feeling knowing that I’m the best jumper in Ghana, even though sometimes I wish we had other jumpers to create competition. There’s always someone who is better, and I knew Ese Brume from Nigeria was very strong. I was aiming for silver, but even if I didn’t think I’d win gold, I knew I had to give my best.”
The 26-year-old admitted her disappointment at failing to make the final at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon earlier this year, saying, “I felt bad about my performance at the World Championships. I was so nervous going into the competition. Even the night before, I didn’t sleep—not even one hour.”
Acquah and the other Ghanaian medalists returned home earlier this week to a warm reception from fans, celebrating their success at the international stage.
