- Maiyegun’s passing comes shortly after the 60th anniversary of his Olympic feat
- The Olympian defeated Great Britain’s William Robinson in under two minutes during the tournament
- Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, Nojim Maiyegun, has died at the age of 83
Nojim Maiyegun, Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, passed away at 83 on Monday morning in Vienna, Austria.
Born on 17 February 1941 in Lagos, Maiyegun's historic accomplishment as Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist remains a defining moment in the nation’s sporting history.
It marked the end of Nigeria’s 12-year drought at the Olympics, as Maiyegun became the first athlete to bring home a medal since the country began participating in the Games in 1952.
His death was confirmed by close confidant Rudolfine F. Soultan in a heartfelt Facebook post,
"My Jimmy died. I can’t say more about this right now because it’s just horrible. The day after tomorrow, we would have been together for 17 years," the confidant stated.
Maiyegun, who had been battling an undisclosed illness for months, made history at the Tokyo 1964 Olympics by winning a bronze medal in boxing at the age of 23. He claimed Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic boxing medal in the light-middleweight category.
In the tournament, he defeated Great Britain’s William Robinson in just under two minutes in the second round and overcame Denmark’s Tom Bogs in the quarter-finals. However, he lost to France’s Joseph Gonzalez in the semi-finals, securing a shared bronze with Poland’s Józef Grzesiak.
In addition to his Olympic success, Maiyegun also earned a bronze medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.
His achievements brought Nigeria international recognition in the boxing world, marking the beginning of the country’s Olympic journey.
Maiyegun left Nigeria in 1971 to pursue a professional boxing career in Austria, where he spent the remainder of his life. His death came just days after the 60th anniversary of his Olympic feat on 10 August 1964.
He was largely out of the public eye until 2012 when his loss of vision became widely known. Despite his health challenges, Maiyegun’s legacy as a trailblazer in Nigerian sports lives on.
TheRadar has compiled below 8 facts you didn’t know about Nojim Maiyegun.
1. Nigeria’s First Olympic Medalist: Nojim Maiyegun made history as Nigeria's first-ever Olympic medalist, winning a bronze medal in the men’s Light Middleweight (71 kg) category at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
2. Nicknamed "Omo Oloja": Maiyegun was affectionately called "Omo Oloja" by fans, a nickname that resonated with his popularity in Nigeria.
3. Bronze Medalist at the Commonwealth Games: In addition to his Olympic success, Maiyegun won a bronze medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.
4. African Champion: He also claimed an African Championship gold, further solidifying his status as one of Nigeria's boxing legends.
5. Settled in Austria: Maiyegun relocated to Austria in 1971, where he spent most of his life, seeking more international boxing opportunities.
6. Blinded by Boxing: His boxing career was tragically cut short due to blindness, which doctors believe could have been caused by head injuries from the sport. Remarkably, he fought a world championship title bout despite his partial blindness.
7. Life After Boxing: After retiring from boxing, Maiyegun worked for 28 years as a street cleaner and janitor in Austria, needing assistance due to his blindness.
8. Record-Breaking Feat: Maiyegun became the first completely blind man in Austria to climb a 1,700-meter-high mountain and jump with a parachute.
Paris Olympics 2024: Hannah Reuben ready for Nigeria’s last shot at medal
Previously, TheRadar reported that Hannah Reuben, the reigning African women’s wrestling champion, is set to make her bid for a medal in the women’s freestyle 76kg category. Her campaign begins today, Saturday, August 10, at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris.
At 26 years old, Reuben stands as Nigeria’s last chance for an Olympic medal, stepping onto the mat with both the burden and the honour of representing her country.
