Nigeria’s first-ever Olympics medalist, Nojim Maiyegun, has passed away. The news was confirmed by an Austria-based acquaintance, Rudolfine Soultan (Funmilayo), who shared the sad news on her Facebook page, expressing her grief over the loss.
Maiyegun, also known by nicknames such as “Jimmy,” “Market Boxer,” and “Omo Oloja,” won a bronze medal in the men’s light middleweight (71kg) category at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, making him Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist. He also earned a bronze medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.
Born on February 17, 1941, in Lagos State, Maiyegun relocated to Austria in 1971 to continue his professional boxing career, though it was relatively brief, spanning from 1971 to 1973. In his career, he fought 16 bouts, winning 12, including 10 by knockout, and losing four. In 2012, he revealed that he had lost his sight. His death marks the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s sporting history.
