Sports Minister Mourns Death Of Nigeria’s First Olympic Medalist
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Nigeria’s first Olympic medallist, Nojim Maiyegun, who died on Monday at the age of 85.
Maiyegun’s death comes just days after the 60th anniversary of his remarkable achievement at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he won a bronze medal in boxing.
Competing in the Light Middleweight (71 kg) category, he shared the bronze medal with Poland’s Józef Grzesiak after both athletes lost in the semifinals, as per Olympic tradition.
“My condolences to Maiyegun’s family and the entire Nigerian sports community,” Sports Minister Enoh said. “His monumental contribution to Nigerian sports in 1964 was not just a win for himself but a victory for all Nigerians.”
“His legacy as a pioneer of Nigerian sports excellence will never be forgotten.”
Maiyegun was just 23 years old when he secured Nigeria’s first Olympic medal by defeating Great Britain’s William Robinson in an impressive time of one minute and 59 seconds during the second round. Despite losing to France’s Joseph Gonzalez in the semi-finals, Maiyegun’s efforts earned him and Poland’s Józef Grzesiak the bronze medal.
In 1966, Maiyegun continued to showcase his boxing talent by winning another bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. His success in the ring led him to pursue a professional boxing career, which began in 1971.
Throughout his career, he fought 16 times, winning 12 of those matches, with 10 victories coming by knockout. Maiyegun success paved the way for future generations of Nigerian athletes and marked a significant milestone in the country’s sports history.
His life and achievements remain a source of inspiration for many, highlighting the importance of resilience, dedication and national pride.
The death of the legend is a significant loss to Nigeria and the global sporting community and he will be fondly remembered as a trailblazer who set the stage for future Olympic successes.
