Nojim Maiyegun, Nigeria’s first Olympic medallist, passed away on Monday in Vienna, Austria, at the age of 85. Maiyegun died of natural causes after a prolonged period of ill health, including recent hospitalizations. His death was confirmed by Stephen Ogboh, a fellow Nigerian and acquaintance residing in Austria.
Maiyegun’s passing comes shortly after the 60th anniversary of his historic achievement. On August 10, 1964, at the Tokyo Olympics, he won a bronze medal in boxing in the Light Middleweight category, alongside Poland’s Józef Grzesiak. The two were awarded bronze as there was no third-place bout, marking Nigeria’s first Olympic medal since its debut in Helsinki 1952.
Born on February 17, 1941, in Lagos, Maiyegun’s achievement ended a 12-year winless streak for Nigeria at the Olympics. Despite his significant accomplishment, he remained relatively out of the spotlight until 2012, when his loss of vision was publicly revealed.
Maiyegun’s legacy as a pioneer in Nigerian sports remains influential, and his contribution to the nation’s Olympic history is celebrated and remembered.
