Nojim Maiyegun, Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, has passed away at the age of 85. The former boxer, who made history by winning a bronze medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, died on Monday in Vienna, Austria, where he had lived for many years.
Maiyegun’s death was attributed to natural causes, following a period of declining health and repeated hospital visits over the past six months. The Nigerian sports icon had been visually impaired for several years, with his condition worsening in recent months.
Maiyegun’s historic achievement came on August 10, 1964, when he won a bronze medal in the men’s light middleweight boxing category at the Tokyo Olympics. His victory ended Nigeria’s 12-year medal drought at the Olympics, marking the country’s first podium finish since it began participating in the Games in 1952. Maiyegun shared the bronze medal with Poland’s Józef Grzesiak, as both boxers were awarded the medal after their semifinal losses, in accordance with Olympic tradition.
Born on February 17, 1941, in Lagos, Maiyegun’s groundbreaking success paved the way for future Nigerian athletes on the global stage, inspiring subsequent generations. His passing is a significant loss to the Nigerian sports community, but his legacy as a trailblazer in Nigerian athletics will continue to be a source of national pride.
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