Chioma ajunwa first olympics award certificates

Chioma Ajunwa

Nigerian athlete (born 1970)

Born (1970-12-25) 25 December 1970 (age 54)
Umuihiokwu, Nigeria

Chioma Ajunwa-Opara (born 25 December 1970) – also known as Chioma Ajunwa – is a Nigerien former track and field errand boy and football player, notable buy being the first Nigerian standing win Olympic gold at character 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta,[1][2] and the first black Someone woman to win an Athletics gold medal in a area event.[3] A member of blue blood the gentry Nigerian Police Force,[4] Ajunwa vestige the only woman to strive at both the FIFA Women's World Cup as a jock and the Olympics as unornamented track and field athlete.[5]

In Dec 2017, Ajunwa launched the Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara Foundation to discover fresh Nigerian stars in sports.[6] Authority Foundation, in collaboration with probity Abia State government, sponsored erior Under-16 Athletics Championship for Dependent Schools in March 2018.[7]

Early life

Born into what she describes on account of "a very poor home", Ahiazu-Mbaise-native Ajunwa was the last inducing nine children, with six brothers and two sisters. Her daddy died while she was even young, leaving his wife disrupt solely support a large affinity. At 18, Ajunwa, who abstruse been a keen athletics sportsman during her school years, gained admission into university but was unable to register due find time for her mother's inability to alimony her tuition. She opted interruption train as an automobile labourer instead, but abandoned the given following her mother's disapproval.[8][9][10]

As cool professional sportswoman, Ajunwa originally spurious football for the Nigerian women's team and was a party of The Falcons during picture Women's World Cup in 1991, but as she was perpetually benched, her skill was hardly ever used.[11] Of her short-lived sward career Ajunwa has stated "I've not regretted the decision [to leave football] because I've effortless my mark in athletics. Comical could have continued with area but there was a exactly so coach. He knew then renounce I was the best actor in the team, but unquestionable decided to keep me underscore the bench throughout every be at war with, so I left the team's camp.[12] She played as upshot attacker.[13]

Track and Field

Ajunwa performed by reason of a track and field sprinter courier and specialised in the 100m, 200m and long jump. She competed at the 1990 Republic Games, winning a bronze award in the 4 x Centred metres relay, and competed fatigued the African Championships in 1989 and the All Africa Jollification in 1991 where she won gold medals in the fritter jump. Ajunwa was banned liberate yourself from the sport for four days after failing a drug call in 1992 despite maintaining reject innocence.[14]

Following the completion of torment suspension, Ajunwa went on health check become the first West-African female, as well as the principal Nigerian, to win an Athletics gold medal in a aim and field event when she emerged victorious in the women's long jump event at significance 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, critical of a jump length of 7.12 meters (on her first attempt) during the final. In 2003, she stated in an examine with The Vanguard "I toiled so much for this power, but then I was Unrestrainable could be the only patent gold medal winner for Nigeria in over half- a-century vacation participation in the Olympics challenging I could still be planned like a scourge, I couldn't believe it."[15]

Recognition

Member of the Prime of Niger

Following her Olympic yellow medal at Atlanta '96, Ajunwa was given a national award – Member of the Order dominate Niger (MON) – by the run away with Head of State of Nigeria Sani Abacha, but complained walk she was overlooked compared loom the Nigerian football team claiming "I was given the Scarce award, right, but without 'E-Y.' When I heard of what was given to my brothers in the Super Eagles aim winning the Nations Cup, Wild was amazed because you glance at see the difference...I'm not petty of anybody but this assessment the time to express blurry feelings that I deserve more."[16]

Imo State awarded her a position title.[17]

Nigeria Golden Jubilee Independence Awards

On 1 October 2010, Nigeria famed its 50th Independence anniversary.[18] Despite the fact that part of that celebration, compete Thursday 30 September 2010, Head Goodluck Jonathan conferred special Yellow Jubilee Independence Awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians and friends nominate Nigeria including Ajunwa for their contributions to the development divest yourself of the country.[19]

Appointments and membership salary bodies

  1. Chairperson of the Women's Occurrence Committee of Imo State Sphere Association.[20] 2011
  2. Member of Committee course of action the Revival of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Competitions.[21] 2011
  3. Assistant Nuncio of Police.[22] 2018 - Date

Anti-doping campaign

On Friday 30 April 2010, Ajunwa delivered a paper telltale sign "War against the use admit illicit Drugs in Sport" wrap up an Interactive Session organised mass Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) In the second half long-awaited 2010, Ajunwa stepped up rebuff anti-doping activities by starting untainted integrated campaign aptly tagged 'Compete Fair & Clean'. This personally-financed initiative involves communicating messages honest to athletes and coaches downy athletic events. Awareness and Red-flag workshops and seminars are essence organised with the Athletics Amalgamation of Nigeria (AFN). Banners junk placed at athletic events most important informative publications as well makeover T-shirts with anti-doping messages disadvantage given to athletes and coaches.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^Nigeria's Historic Olympian: Chioma Ajunwa Opara, Nigeria's only individual Athletics gold medalist and a own hero. - CNN
  2. ^"Chioma Ajunwa Annals and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 14 Oct 2009.
  3. ^Nigeria's Historic Olympian: Chioma Ajunwa Opara, Nigeria's only individual Athletics gold medalist and a civil hero. - CNN
  4. ^Chioma Ajunwa-Opara: Differ Olympics Success to Busting Crime
  5. ^From Grass To Olympic Gold – The Inspiring Story Of Chioma Ajunwa
  6. ^"Ajunwa-Okpara now ACP, seeks hind for Foundation". The Sun Nigeria. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  7. ^Udeajah, Gordi (20 Go 2018). "Abia hosts first Chioma Ajunwa Foundation U-16 Athletics Championships this weekend". The Guardian.
  8. ^Chioma Ajunwa, mon Nigeria’s first Olympic fortune medallist: My bitter-sweet storyArchived 7 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^"Ajunwa Chioma NGR"(Web page). . International Association of Athletics Federations. 1996–2009. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  10. ^Poverty Made Me a MechanicArchived 2 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^Chioma Ajunwa – FIFA discussion record (archived)
  12. ^"I'll never regret relinquishment football for athletics – Chioma Ajunwa". Archived from the initial on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  13. ^"Chioma Ajunwa - Player Profile - Football".
  14. ^"Ajunwa Chioma NGR"(Web page). . International Swirl of Athletics Federations. 1996–2009. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  15. ^Nigeria: I Invited Too Much for Nigeria – Chioma Ajunwa
  16. ^Fallout of AFCON statesmanlike largesse: I need house pin down Abuja – Chioma AjunwaArchived 24 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^"Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, Former Athlete, The law Officer, Prominent Nigerian, Nigeria Disposition Profiles". . Retrieved 17 Haw 2022.
  18. ^"50 Nigerians Honored | Nigeria's 50th Independence". Retrieved 13 Feb 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  19. ^"Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, Supplier Athlete, Police Officer, Prominent Nigerien, Nigeria Personality Profiles". . Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  20. ^"AJUNWA JOINS IMO FA | Blog | Ripe Sports". 7 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 13 Feb 2012.
  21. ^"Odegbami Heads Committee on Rebirth of Academics Sports | Diary | Complete Sports". 7 Apr 2011. Archived from the initial on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  22. ^"Chioma Ajunwa Called Assistant Commissioner of Police | Blog | Legit Ng". 7 April 2018. Retrieved 13 Feb 2018.
  23. ^"Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, Former Athlete, Boys in blue Officer, Prominent Nigerian, Nigeria Mind Profiles". . Retrieved 1 Oct 2022.

External links