Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, Nojim Maiyegun has died at the age of 83.
He died of natural causes on Monday, August 26, 2024 at his base in Vienna, Austria, where he lives.
His demise comes twelve years after he was reported dead.
According to the Nation, Maiyegun’s death was confirmed by a source in the deceased’s home in Vienna.
The source said, “Yes, it is true (Maiyegun’s death). Rest in peace; he was the greatest man on this planet and we will always love him.”
Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, Nojim Maiyegun brief biography
Nojim Maiyegun was born in Lagos on 17th February 1941. In 2012, he revealed his loss of sight.
Maiyegun made history by winning Nigeria’s historic first medal in the boxing event at the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo as he shared the bronze medal with Józef Grzesiak of Poland in the Light Middleweight category.
At the Olympics, the two losers in the semifinals are traditionally awarded the bronze medal, as there is no third place bout.
Maiyegun’s death came just few days after the 60th anniversary of his feat in the boxing event at the Olympics in Tokyo on 10th August, 1964.
