Nigeria’s first Olympic medallist Maiyegun dies at 85

Nigeria’s first Olympic medallist, Nojim Maiyegun, died on Monday at the age of 85, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The former boxer, who made history by winning a bronze medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, died in Vienna, Austria, where he had lived for several years after moving from Nigeria.

Multiple sources confirm that Maiyegun died of natural causes after being in and out of hospital for the past six months.

Maiyegun had been visually impaired for many years and his condition is said to have deteriorated before his death.

The news of his passing was confirmed by Stephen Ogboh, a Nigerian acquaintance living in Austria, who confirmed the sad development at Sports Village Square.

Maiyegun passed away just days after the 60th anniversary of his historic achievement on August 10, 1964, when he won Nigeria’s first ever Olympic medal.

Maiyegun, who competed in the light middleweight category, shared the bronze medal with Poland’s Józef Grzesiak after both boxers lost in the semi-finals. At the Olympics, both losers in the semi-finals traditionally receive bronze, as there is no fight for third place.

His performance in Tokyo ended Nigeria’s 12-year Olympic medal drought after the country first competed at the 1952 Games in Helsinki.

Maiyegun’s groundbreaking performance paved the way for Nigeria’s subsequent success on the world stage, with the country winning three silver medals and two more bronze medals at subsequent editions of the Games.

The passing of this pioneering athlete is a great loss to the Nigerian sporting world as his legacy remains an enduring source of pride for the nation.