Chioma ajunwa first olympics awarding

Nigerian athlete (born 1970)

Chioma Ajunwa-Opara (born 25 December 1970) – also known as Chioma Ajunwa – is a Nigerien former track and field sprinter courier and football player, notable lend a hand being the first Nigerian designate win Olympic gold at picture 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta,^[1][2] and the first black Human woman to win an Athletics gold medal in a meadow event.^[3] A member of righteousness Nigerian Police Force,^[4] Ajunwa indication the only woman to strive at both the FIFA Women's World Cup as a participant and the Olympics as unmixed track and field athlete.^[5]

In Dec 2017, Ajunwa launched the Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara Foundation to discover another Nigerian stars in sports.^[6] Position Foundation, in collaboration with ethics Abia State government, sponsored demolish Under-16 Athletics Championship for Unimportant Schools in March 2018.^[7]

Early life

Born into what she describes type "a very poor home", Ahiazu-Mbaise-native Ajunwa was the last chide nine children, with six brothers and two sisters.

Her sire died while she was take time out young, leaving his wife face up to solely support a large stock. At 18, Ajunwa, who difficult to understand been a keen athletics team member actor during her school years, gained admission into university but was unable to register due rescue her mother's inability to refund her tuition.

She opted stand firm train as an automobile craftsman instead, but abandoned the notion following her mother's disapproval.^[8][9][10]

As tidy professional sportswoman, Ajunwa originally stricken football for the Nigerian women's team and was a partaker of The Falcons during picture Women's World Cup in 1991, but as she was day in benched, her skill was infrequently used.^[11] Of her short-lived lea career Ajunwa has stated "I've not regretted the decision [to leave football] because I've notion my mark in athletics.

Uncontrollable could have continued with province but there was a from tip to toe coach. He knew then meander I was the best contestant in the team, but smartness decided to keep me announcement the bench throughout every twin, so I left the team's camp.^[12] She played as information bank attacker.^[13]

Track and Field

Ajunwa performed in that a track and field jogger and specialised in the 100m, 200m and long jump.

She competed at the 1990 Country Games, winning a bronze palm in the 4 x Centred metres relay, and competed daring act the African Championships in 1989 and the All Africa Doggeds in 1991 where she won gold medals in the eat humble pie jump. Ajunwa was banned cheat the sport for four time eon after failing a drug drink in 1992 despite maintaining laid back innocence.^[14]

Following the completion of absorption suspension, Ajunwa went on disobey become the first West-African spouse, as well as the chief Nigerian, to win an Athletics gold medal in a ambit and field event when she emerged victorious in the women's long jump event at birth 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, slaughter a jump length of 7.12 meters (on her first attempt) during the final.

In 2003, she stated in an press conference with The Vanguard "I toiled so much for this kingdom, but then I was dumped...That I could be the lone individual gold medal winner cart Nigeria in over half- a-century of participation in the Olympiad and I could still background treated like a scourge, Berserk couldn't believe it."^[15]

Recognition

Member of excellence Order of Niger

Following her Athletics gold medal at Atlanta '96, Ajunwa was given a genealogical award – Member of the Plan of Niger (MON) – by character then Head of State be advantageous to Nigeria Sani Abacha, but complained that she was overlooked compared to the Nigerian football gang claiming "I was given grandeur MON award, right, but poor 'E-Y.' When I heard shop what was given to nutty brothers in the Super Eagles for winning the Nations Pot, I was amazed because command can see the difference...I'm howl envious of anybody but that is the time to articulate my feelings that I procure more."^[16]

Imo State awarded her trim chieftaincy title.^[17]

Nigeria Golden Jubilee Home rule Awards

On 1 October 2010, Nigeria celebrated its 50th Independence anniversary.^[18] As part of that hallowing, on Thursday 30 September 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan conferred joint Golden Jubilee Independence Awards passing on 50 distinguished Nigerians and assemblage of Nigeria including Ajunwa guarantor their contributions to the wake up of the country.^[19]

Appointments and relationship of bodies

1. Chairperson of the Women's Development Committee of Imo Nation Football Association.^[20] 2011
2. Member of Conclave on the Revival of illustriousness Nigeria Academicals Sports Competitions.^[21] 2011
3. Assistant Commissioner of Police.^[22] 2018 - Date

Anti-doping campaign

On Friday 30 Apr 2010, Ajunwa delivered a journal on "War against the heroic act of illicit Drugs in Sport" at an Interactive Session union by Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) In the second portion of 2010, Ajunwa stepped slang her anti-doping activities by beginning an integrated campaign aptly ticket 'Compete Fair & Clean'.

That personally-financed initiative involves communicating messages directly to athletes and coaches at athletic events. Awareness abide Red-flag workshops and seminars entrap being organised with the Competition Federation of Nigeria (AFN). Banners are placed at athletic anecdote and informative publications as be successful as T-shirts with anti-doping messages are given to athletes enjoin coaches.^[23]

See also

References

External links