Nigeria’s first Olympic medallist Maiyegun dies at 85

By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 27, 2024

Nigeria’s first Olympic medallist, Nojim Maiyegun, died on Monday, aged 85, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The former boxer, who made history by winning a bronze medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, passed away in Vienna, Austria, where he resided for several years after relocating from Nigeria.

Multiple sources confirmed that Maiyegun died of natural causes after being in and out of the hospital for the past six months.

Known to have been visually impaired for several years, Maiyegun’s condition had reportedly worsened before his death.

The news of his death was verified by Stephen Ogboh, a Nigerian acquaintance living in Austria, who confirmed the sad development to Sports Village Square.

Maiyegun’s demise comes just days after the 60th anniversary of his historic feat of August 10, 1964, when he won Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic medal.

Competing in the light middleweight category, Maiyegun shared the bronze medal with Poland’s Józef Grzesiak after both boxers lost in the semifinals. At the Olympics, both semifinal losers are traditionally awarded bronze, as there is no third-place bout.

His achievement in Tokyo ended Nigeria’s 12-year medal drought at the Olympics, following the country’s first appearance at the Helsinki 1952 Games.

Maiyegun’s breakthrough performance paved the way for subsequent Nigerian successes on the global stage, as the country went on to win three silver medals and two more bronze medals in subsequent editions of the Games.

The death of the pioneering athlete is a significant loss to the Nigerian sports fraternity, as his legacy remains an enduring source of pride to the nation.

 

 

 

Source Punch Ng

Posted August 27, 2024


 

You may also like...
Real Madrid Confirm Thigh Muscle Injury For Hazard...

CAF Champions League: Mazembe Frustrated By Agosto In...

Red-Hot Onuachu Scores 15th Goal Of The Season...

Ekiti athletes get new kits, state Assembly probes...

Nigeria does not have coach, team yet, Gombe...

British Legend: Retired Federer Irreplaceable

 

Latest News FIFA Monday meeting to determine Eagles’ World Cup fate Adesanya keen to prove GOAT status Davis Cup: Ochei sparks Nigeria’s tennis revival 56 grassroots clubs battle for Taiwo Afolabi Cup ICYMI: CAF reaffirms Morocco as host of WAFCON 2026, rejects postponement talk PHOTOS: Kenya’s Ezra Kering wins 2026 Lagos city marathon Chukwuemka prefers Austria to Nigeria Enekwechi throws season best, Okezie finishes second in Serbia Ogazi wins SEC Runner of the Week Lookman has matched Osimhen’s impact – Peseiro West Ham plot Chukwueze summer hijack Tennis: Stakeholders dream big after Davis Cup promotion

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (63,556 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,863 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,772 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,414 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,330 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,246 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,113 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,664 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,833 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,364 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,756 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,220 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media