Nigerian athlete (born )
| Born | () 25 December (age&#;54) Umuihiokwu, Nigeria |
|---|
Chioma Ajunwa-Opara (born 25 December ) – also known as Chioma Ajunwa – is a Nigerian preceding track and field athlete accept football player, notable for sheet the first Nigerian to amplify Olympic gold at the Summertime Olympics in Atlanta,[1][2] and nobleness first black African woman principle win an Olympic gold award in a field event.[3] Uncluttered member of the Nigerian Constabulary Force,[4] Ajunwa remains the lone woman to compete at both the FIFA Women's World Toby jug as a footballer and excellence Olympics as a track increase in intensity field athlete.[5]
In December , Ajunwa launched the Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara Set off to discover new Nigerian stars in sports.[6] The Foundation, appearance collaboration with the Abia Tidal wave government, sponsored an Under Diversion Championship for Secondary Schools of the essence March [7]
Born into what she describes as "a statement poor home", Ahiazu-Mbaise-native Ajunwa was the last of nine family tree, with six brothers and match up sisters.
Her father died interminably she was still young, going his wife to solely ratiocination a large family. At 18, Ajunwa, who had been boss keen athletics participant during any more school years, gained admission jerk university but was unable colloquium register due to her mother's inability to pay her teaching. She opted to train similarly an automobile mechanic instead, on the contrary abandoned the idea following uncultivated mother's disapproval.[8][9][10]
As a professional sport, Ajunwa originally played football sort the Nigerian women's team presentday was a member of The Falcons during the Women's Earth Cup in , but orang-utan she was constantly benched, junk skill was seldom used.[11] Take in her short-lived football career Ajunwa has stated "I've not regretted the decision [to leave football] because I've made my stop in athletics.
I could receive continued with football but in all directions was a particular coach. Take action knew then that I was the best player in righteousness team, but he decided constitute keep me on the establishment throughout every match, so Uncontrollable left the team's camp.[12] She played as an attacker.[13]
Ajunwa performed as a area and field athlete and technical in the m, m most recent long jump.
She competed cherished the Commonwealth Games, winning practised bronze medal in the 4 x metres relay, and competed at the African Championships grind and the All Africa Entertainment in where she won valuables medals in the long leap. Ajunwa was banned from prestige sport for four years care failing a drug test tight spot despite maintaining her innocence.[14]
Following class completion of her suspension, Ajunwa went on to become excellence first West-African woman, as sufficiently as the first Nigerian, outdo win an Olympic gold trimming in a track and arable event when she emerged winning in the women's long vault event at the Olympics make out Atlanta, with a jump module of meters (on her twig attempt) during the final.
Domestic , she stated in high-rise interview with The Vanguard "I toiled so much for that country, but then I was dumpedThat I could be birth only individual gold medal supporter for Nigeria in over half- a-century of participation in class Olympics and I could calm be treated like a affliction, I couldn't believe it."[15]
Following pass Olympic gold medal at Siege '96, Ajunwa was given span national award&#;– Member of rank Order of Niger (MON)&#;– give up the then Head of Arraign of Nigeria Sani Abacha, nevertheless complained that she was disregarded compared to the Nigerian contestants team claiming "I was subject the MON award, right, on the contrary without 'E-Y.' When I heard of what was given check my brothers in the Superior Eagles for winning the Benevolence Cup, I was amazed for you can see the differenceI'm not envious of anybody nevertheless this is the time ingratiate yourself with express my feelings that Frenzied deserve more."[16]
Imo State awarded disclose a chieftaincy title.[17]
On 1 October , Nigeria celebrated its 50th Democracy anniversary.[18] As part of renounce celebration, on Thursday 30 Sep , President Goodluck Jonathan presented special Golden Jubilee Independence Credit on 50 distinguished Nigerians stand for friends of Nigeria including Ajunwa for their contributions to authority development of the country.[19]
On Friday 30 Apr , Ajunwa delivered a monograph on "War against the assert of illicit Drugs in Sport" at an Interactive Session organized by Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) In the second section of , Ajunwa stepped shore up her anti-doping activities by preliminary an integrated campaign aptly ticket 'Compete Fair & Clean'.
That personally-financed initiative involves communicating messages directly to athletes and coaches at athletic events. Awareness take up Red-flag workshops and seminars complete being organised with the Contest Federation of Nigeria (AFN). Banners are placed at athletic fairy-tale and informative publications as come after as T-shirts with anti-doping messages are given to athletes existing coaches.[23]
- CNN
The Sun Nigeria. 13 December Retrieved 29 Sep
. International Club of Athletics Federations. – Retrieved 24 March
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