Paris 2024 Olympics: Zambia’s Racheal Nachula becomes two-sport Olympian with women’s football appearance

Racheal Nachula has had to be patient, but she can now check another dream off her list at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Having been named in Zambia’s starting XI to face Australia today (28 July), she is now officially a two-sport Olympian in football and athletics.

Nachula made her Games debut at Beijing 2008, where she reached the semi-final of the women’s 400metres.

Now she is putting that speed to use on the football pitch, as the ‘Copper Queens’ compete at their second-ever Olympics.

Having missed out on the Tokyo 2020 squad three years ago, this is the moment the 38-year-old has been waiting for, having fallen in love with the sport at a young age.

Listed as one of the alternates on the Zambia roster, an injury to Grace Chanda meant an opportunity for Nachula to realise her lifelong dream.

After being beaten by the USA 3-0 in their competition opener, this clash with the Aussies is pivotal to the African nation’s hopes of making it to the knockout stages.