Mary Onyali-Omagbemi’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story
Sophia Carter
Published Jan 04, 2026
| Intro | Nigerian sprinter | ||
| Is | Athlete | ||
| From | Nigeria | ||
| Type | Sports | ||
| Gender | female | ||
| Birth | 3 February 1968, Adamawa State | ||
| Age: | 52 years | ||
| Star sign | Aquarius | ||
| Family |
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Mary Onyali-Omagbemi (née Onyali, born 3 February 1968) is a Nigerian former sprinter, who won the bronze medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the 1992 Olympic Games and in the 200 m at the 1996 Olympic Games. She also won the 1994 Commonwealth Games 100 metres title.
Onyali-Omagbemi performed especially well in the All-Africa Games, winning a total of 7 individual medals in the short sprints. She won 100 m in 1991, 1995 and 2003 and took a bronze medal in 1987. Gold medals in 200 m were taken in 1987, 1995 and 2003. Furthermore, the Nigerian 4 × 100 m relay team won all races between 1987 and 2003, at the African Games.
Born Mary Onyali, by the time of the 2000 Olympics she was known as Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, having married fellow Nigerian sprinter Victor Omagbemi.
Her consecutive Olympic appearances from 1988 to 2004 made her the first Nigerian to compete at five Olympics. This feat was equalled by table tennis players Bose Kaffo and Segun Toriola four years later in Beijing, PR China.
Mary Onyali-Omagbemi currently serves as the Special Adviser (Technical) to the Director General of the National Sports Commission in Nigeria.
Achievements
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Nigeria | |||||
| 1986 | World Junior Championships | Athens, Greece | 1st (sf) | 100m | 11.42 w (wind: +2.5 m/s) |
| 2nd | 200m | 23.30 (wind: +0.6 m/s) | |||
| 3rd | 4 × 100 m relay | 44.13 | |||
| 1987 | World Indoor Championships | Indianapolis, United States | 5th | 200 m | 23.56 |
| All-Africa Games | Nairobi, Kenya | 3rd | 100 m | 11.47 | |
| 1st | 200 m | 22.66 | |||
| World Championships | Rome, Italy | 6th | 200 m | 22.52 | |
| 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | semi-finals | 200 m | 22.43 |
| heats | 4 × 400 m | 3:30.21 | |||
| 1989 | World Cup | Barcelona, Spain | 2nd | 100 m | 11.23 |
| 2nd | 200 m | 22.82 | |||
| — | 4 × 100 m | DNF | |||
| 1991 | World Championships | Tokyo, Japan | 7th | 100 m | 11.39 |
| 4th | 4 × 100 m | 42.77 | |||
| 5th | 4 × 400 m | 3:24.45 | |||
| All-Africa Games | Cairo, Egypt | 1st | 100 m | 11.12 | |
| 1992 | Olympic Games | Barcelona, Spain | 7th | 100 m | 11.15 |
| semi-finals | 200 m | 22.60 | |||
| 3rd | 4 × 100 m relay | 42.81 | |||
| 1993 | World Championships | Stuttgart, Germany | 5th | 100 m | 11.05 |
| 5th | 200 m | 22.32 | |||
| 1994 | Commonwealth Games | Victoria, Canada | 1st | 100 m | 11.06 |
| 2nd | 200 m | 22.35 | |||
| 1st | 4 × 100 m relay | 42.99 | |||
| World Cup | London, United Kingdom | 3rd | 100 m | 11.52 | |
| 4th | 200 m | 22.82 | |||
| 1st | 4 × 100 m | 42.92 | |||
| 1995 | World Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 7th | 100 m | 11.19 |
| 6th | 200 m | 22.71 | |||
| All-Africa Games | Harare, Zimbabwe | 1st | 100 m | 11.18 | |
| 1st | 200 m | 22.75 | |||
| 1996 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 7th | 100 m | 11.13 |
| 3rd | 200 m | 22.38 | |||
| 5th | 4 × 100 m | 42.56 | |||
| 1998 | World Cup | Johannesburg, South Africa | 3rd | 100 m | 11.05 |
| 4th | 4 × 100 m | 42.91 | |||
| 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | quarter-finals | 100 m | 11.40 |
| quarter-finals | 200 m | 23.03 | |||
| 7th | 4 × 100 m | 44.05 | |||
| 2003 | World Championships | Paris, France | semi-finals | 100 m | 11.35 |
| semi-finals | 200 m | 22.97 | |||
| All-Africa Games | Abuja, Nigeria | 1st | 100 m | 11.12 | |
| 1st | 200 m | 23.09 | |||
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | quarter-finals | 200 m | 23.75 |
Personal bests
- 100 metres – 10.97 (1993)
- 200 metres – 22.07 (1996)
- 400 metres – 54.21 (2000)
