- Nojim Maiyegun recently passed away at the age of 83, leaving a lasting legacy as a pioneer and inspiration in athletics
- Maiyegun was Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, won bronze in boxing at the age of 23 in 1964 Tokyo Olympics
- TheRadar profiles the true hero with a remarkable impact on the entire nation
The sporting world and Nigeria have lost a true icon with the passing of Nojim Maiyegun at the age of 83. As Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, Maiyegun’s achievements marked a significant milestone in the history of Nigerian sports.
His triumphs were not just personal victories but also victories for his country. Let’s look at Nojim Maiyegun’s remarkable journey to becoming Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, his death and tribune.
Early life and rise to stardom of Nojim Maiyegun
Nojim Maiyegun was born on February 17, 1941, in Lagos, Nigeria, a city teeming with both promise and challenges.
Maiyegun’s determination and skill paid off when he won the bronze medal in the light-heavyweight boxing category (71 kg) at Tokyo 1964, a significant milestone that marked him as a fighter to watch at the age of 23.
In the second round of the competition, he triumphed over William Robinson from Great Britain in one minute and 59 seconds, an impressive achievement in amateur boxing.
He won against Tom Bogs from Denmark in the quarter-finals but was defeated by Joseph Gonzalez of France in the semi-finals.
Even with his semi-final loss to Joseph Gonzalez of France, Maiyegun still went home with a bronze medal, alongside Poland’s Józef Grzesiak. His achievement of securing a bronze medal was groundbreaking for Nigeria.
Maiyegun’s accomplishments
It brought a sense of pride and joy to the nation. Two years after his previous win, he won a second bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1966. His performance was nothing short of extraordinary.
Maiyegun’s accomplishments were celebrated across Nigeria, and he became a symbol of hope and inspiration for future generations of athletes. He left Nigeria in 1971 to start his professional boxing career.
Nojim Maiyegun’s achievement had a profound impact on Nigerian sports. His success at the Tokyo Olympics inspired a generation of young athletes to pursue their dreams. Throughout his boxing career, he fought 16 times and secured 12 wins, 10 of which were by knockout.
Nojim Maiyegun dies at 83
After the Tokyo Olympics, Nojim Maiyegun became a prominent figure in Nigerian sports.
Maiyegun's Austrian partner, Rudolfine Soultan (Funmilayo), announced his death in an emotional Facebook post on Monday, August 26.
The post read, “My Jimylein (Jimmy) is dead. I can’t say more about this right now because it’s just horrible. By the day after tomorrow, we would have been together for 17 years.”
Maiyegun, who had been visually impaired since 2012, was said to have been fighting an unspecified illness for the past few months.
An unnamed close family source disclosed that Maiyegun took his last breath at his Vienna, Austria, residence on Monday morning.
Popularly known as Omo Oloja, Market Boxer, Jimmy, Maiyegun’s story is a powerful reminder of the potential within each individual and the difference that one person’s achievements can make for an entire nation.
Tributes trooped in after news of his death broke.
Let’s check a few.
Tributes to the true hero
Maiyegun died shortly after the 60th anniversary of his bronze medal win in boxing at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has conveyed his profound sadness over his passing.
He said, “My condolences to Maiyegun’s family and the entire Nigerian sports community.
“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.”
The chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed her sympathies to the Maiyegun family, the Boxing Federation, the sports community, and the Nigerian community in Austria, mourned the loss of a true compatriot.
Rafiu Ladipo, President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), remarked that Maiyegun’s legacy is forever marked in history and should be remembered for his heroic achievements.
He said, “It was Maiyegun who first put Nigeria on the sports map by winning a bronze medal in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
“It was Nigeria’s first medal at the Olympics and any organised major competitions; it also opened the floodgates for other sporting milestones coming thereafter.
“He is a national hero that should be celebrated and honoured, but unfortunately only a posthumous award can be given to him now,” Ladipo stated.
Remi Aboderin, the President of the West Africa Boxing Union, commented that although many have come and gone, remembering Maiyegun is truly great.
He said, “We have lost a great leader who contributed to the development of boxing and sports as a whole in Nigeria.
“It was his bravery at the Tokyo Olympics that opened the floodgates of medals to Nigeria.
Maiyegun also continued and never looked back as he ventured into professional boxing and achieved a lot, he can’t be easily forgotten,” Aboderin added.
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