Nojim Maiyegun, Nigeria’s First Olympic Medallist, dies at 83
Nigeria’s sports community is mourning the loss of Nojim Maiyegun, the country’s first Olympic medallist, who passed away on Monday at 83.
Maiyegun, a former boxer, etched his name in the annals of Nigerian history by securing a bronze medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
He died in Vienna, Austria, where he had been living for several years after relocating from Nigeria. The news of Maiyegun’s passing was confirmed by several sources, including Stephen Ogboh, a Nigerian resident in Austria.
Additionally, Rudolfine F. Soultan (Funmilayo), an acquaintance of Maiyegun, wrote about his death in a Facebook post.
“My Jimylein died today. I can’t say more about this right now because it’s just horrible. The day after tomorrow, we would have been together for 17 years,” she wrote.
Born on February 17, 1941, Maiyegun had been battling health issues, including visual impairment. On July 14, Soultan wrote a post where she indicated that Maiyegun, whom she fondly called Jimmy, was admitted to the hospital again. This was 10 days after another post indicated that he had been discharged from the hospital.
“Happy birthday, dear Amin. Unfortunately, we celebrate without Jimmy and not much, because he was admitted to the hospital again today,” she wrote.
Maiyegun’s death comes at a time of reflection on his historic achievement, occurring just days after the 60th anniversary of his bronze medal win on August 10, 1964.
Competing in the light middleweight category, Maiyegun’s performance in Tokyo marked a significant milestone for Nigeria. His achievement ended the nation’s 12-year wait for an Olympic medal following its debut at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Maiyegun was known for his tenacity and skill in the boxing ring. His bronze medal in Tokyo was shared with Poland’s Józef Grzesiak, as both boxers were defeated in the semifinals—a tradition in Olympic boxing where no third-place match is contested.
Maiyegun’s success was a breakthrough for Nigerian sports, inspiring a new generation of athletes and paving the way for future Olympic achievements.
