American-born Nigerian athlete Dubem Amene has announced his retirement from athletics at the age of 21 after the disqualification of the men’s 4x400m relay team from the Paris 2024 Olympics final.

Amene was part of the Nigerian team along with Ifeanyi Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathaniel, and Chidi Okezie, who had qualified for the final by finishing second in heat 2 with a Season’s Best of 2:59.81.

Sadly, their excitement was short-lived as the team was disqualified from the final due to a lane infringement by Ojeli, who ran the first leg before passing the baton to Nathaniel.

After hearing the unfortunate news, Amene, who won the national title at the Nigerian Olympic trials in Benin earlier this year, announced his decision to retire from athletics to pursue a career in finance, feeling he has achieved his lifelong dream of becoming an Olympian.

The 21-year-old recently graduated from the University of Michigan in June with a degree in Economics and will now begin his career in the workforce.