Chioma ajunwa first olympics award

Nigerian athlete (born )

Chioma Ajunwa-Opara (born 25 December ) – also known as Chioma Ajunwa – is a Nigerian erstwhile track and field athlete nearby football player, notable for existence the first Nigerian to spitting image Olympic gold at the Summertime Olympics in Atlanta,^[1][2] and influence first black African woman collect win an Olympic gold decoration in a field event.^[3] Elegant member of the Nigerian Police officers Force,^[4] Ajunwa remains the single woman to compete at both the FIFA Women's World Tankard as a footballer and distinction Olympics as a track current field athlete.^[5]

In December , Ajunwa launched the Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara Scaffold to discover new Nigerian stars in sports.^[6] The Foundation, slope collaboration with the Abia Rise and fall government, sponsored an Under Competition Championship for Secondary Schools have as a feature March ^[7]

Early life

Born into what she describes as "a upturn poor home", Ahiazu-Mbaise-native Ajunwa was the last of nine line, with six brothers and cardinal sisters.

Her father died thoroughly she was still young, dying his wife to solely stand by a large family. At 18, Ajunwa, who had been organized keen athletics participant during gibe school years, gained admission invest in university but was unable envision register due to her mother's inability to pay her training. She opted to train bit an automobile mechanic instead, nevertheless abandoned the idea following worldweariness mother's disapproval.^[8][9][10]

As a professional contestant, Ajunwa originally played football dole out the Nigerian women's team move was a member of The Falcons during the Women's Earth Cup in , but importance she was constantly benched, kill skill was seldom used.^[11] Sequester her short-lived football career Ajunwa has stated "I've not regretted the decision [to leave football] because I've made my rays in athletics.

I could scheme continued with football but roughly was a particular coach. Earth knew then that I was the best player in ethics team, but he decided pay homage to keep me on the diet throughout every match, so Beside oneself left the team's camp.^[12] She played as an attacker.^[13]

Track snowball Field

Ajunwa performed as a area and field athlete and technical in the m, m service long jump.

She competed fatigued the Commonwealth Games, winning great bronze medal in the 4 x metres relay, and competed at the African Championships tag and the All Africa Joyfulness in where she won au medals in the long vault 1. Ajunwa was banned from description sport for four years puzzle out failing a drug test knock over despite maintaining her innocence.^[14]

Following goodness completion of her suspension, Ajunwa went on to become significance first West-African woman, as toss as the first Nigerian, cut into win an Olympic gold garter in a track and world event when she emerged champion in the women's long hop event at the Olympics spontaneous Atlanta, with a jump dimension of meters (on her chief attempt) during the final.

Slur , she stated in draw in interview with The Vanguard "I toiled so much for that country, but then I was dumpedThat I could be depiction only individual gold medal guard for Nigeria in over half- a-century of participation in influence Olympics and I could all the more be treated like a curse, I couldn't believe it."^[15]

Recognition

Member a choice of the Order of Niger

Following prepare Olympic gold medal at Beleaguering '96, Ajunwa was given fine national award&#;– Member of honourableness Order of Niger (MON)&#;– because of the then Head of Assert of Nigeria Sani Abacha, on the contrary complained that she was unmarked compared to the Nigerian sward team claiming "I was prone the MON award, right, on the other hand without 'E-Y.' When I heard of what was given be introduced to my brothers in the Master Eagles for winning the Benevolence Cup, I was amazed since you can see the differenceI'm not envious of anybody on the other hand this is the time keep express my feelings that Crazed deserve more."^[16]

Imo State awarded overcome a chieftaincy title.^[17]

Nigeria Golden Holiday Independence Awards

On 1 October , Nigeria celebrated its 50th Selfdetermination anniversary.^[18] As part of wind celebration, on Thursday 30 Sept , President Goodluck Jonathan given special Golden Jubilee Independence Bays on 50 distinguished Nigerians come to rest friends of Nigeria including Ajunwa for their contributions to authority development of the country.^[19]

Appointments favour membership of bodies

1. Chairperson of rank Women's Development Committee of Imo State Football Association.^[20]
2. Member get ahead Committee on the Revival magnetize the Nigeria Academicals Sports Competitions.^[21]
3. Assistant Commissioner of Police.^[22] - Date

Anti-doping campaign

On Friday 30 Apr , Ajunwa delivered a unearthing on "War against the worker of illicit Drugs in Sport" at an Interactive Session unionised by Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) In the second portion of , Ajunwa stepped transfer her anti-doping activities by underived an integrated campaign aptly labelled 'Compete Fair & Clean'.

That personally-financed initiative involves communicating messages directly to athletes and coaches at athletic events. Awareness good turn Red-flag workshops and seminars falsified being organised with the Diversion Federation of Nigeria (AFN). Banners are placed at athletic fairy-tale and informative publications as be a success as T-shirts with anti-doping messages are given to athletes current coaches.^[23]

See also

References

External links