Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, Nojim Maiyegun, is dead. The former boxer died in Vienna, Austria, on Monday, August 26, 2024. He was 83 years old.
According to Sports Village Square, Stephen Ogboh, a Nigerian acquaintance living in Austria, announced his death.
Reports say the olympian died of natural causes after constantly visiting the hospital for the past six months. The former boxer is said to have been visually impaired, a condition that worsened before his death.
Born February 17, 1941, in Lagos State, Nojim Maiyegun made history by winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 after competing in the light middleweight category.
His win heralded a new beginning for Nigeria at the Olympic games and paved the way for its success on the global stage.
Nigeria went on to win three silver and two more bronze medals in subsequent editions of the Games.
Maiyegun’s death comes days after the 60th anniversary of his victory on August 10, 1964, when he won Nigeria’s first Olympic medal.
The passing of the trailblazing athlete is a profound loss for the Nigerian sports community, as his legacy continues to be a source of national pride.