You wouldn’t
automatically think of it this way, but we have this idea that the Ministry of
Youth and Sports should do more to keep records of Nigeria’s Sports legends and
Super heroes, so that authors could pen them down in such a manner that it
would interest our children to read and get inspired.
The truth is this; our generation next needs role models that would inspire them for greater achievements.
Of course,
in the hundred years of our amalgamation as a country Nigeria, there have been
huge successes as well as painful failures in our sporting history. There are quite
a lot of interesting stories that needed to be told.
Several
athletes have emerged over the period and did so much to uplift our dear
country among the world committee of nations. But this article aim to select
that one athlete that had done much more in a country of over 160 million
people.
In trying to
select who could be Nigeria’s Super Athlete for the period of our centenary,
what may quickly run through your mind could be such wrestling heroes like
Power Mike or Ben Lion Heart. Or perhaps, such boxing legends like Dike Tiger
and Hogan Bassey. We’ve had some extraordinary athletes like Teslim ‘Thunder’
Balogun; Emmanuel Okalla; Nwankwo Kanu… who also did the country proud in
football.
However, a
Super Athlete is someone who has excelled in different sports. In this case, we
are looking at a Nigerian Athlete who had successfully represented the country
in different sports over the years.
Such Athlete
like Mary Onyali may come to your mind. Onyali was Nigeria’s track and field
queen for over a decade or so. She represented Nigeria in the 100 meters; 200
meters; the relays and Long jump. She won a lot of medals for the country, both in All African games; Commonwealth games;
the Olympics …
Today,
Blessing Okagbare is doing the same thing in grand style; carrying the whole
county on her tender shoulders. These two athletes have had an outstanding contribution
over our centenary, but not as incredible as Chioma Ajunwa.
Chioma
Ajunwa started off as a footballer. She played for the Nigeria women national
team and was in the Falcon’s team that represented Nigeria in the 1991 FIFA
Women’s World Cup.
Ajunwa was
also a track and field star. She specialized in events like 100 meters, 200
meters and the long jump. She represented Nigeria in the African Championship
in 1989; All Africa games in 1991, where she won gold medal in long jump and
the relay.
Ajunwa went
on to become the first Nigerian to win an Olympic gold medal in a track and
field event. She won gold in the long jump event at the Olympics game in
Atlanta USA 1996 – with a jump length of 7.12 meters.
The Story of Chioma Ajunwa
Something
you may want to know about this extraordinary athlete. It may not surprise you
that Chioma grew up among seven boys as the last born in a family of nine.
She lost her
father early and was trained in a post-civil war hardship at Ahazu Mbaise in
Eastern Nigeria. Chioma grew up to be what you may describe as a ‘tom boy’ with
a very strong athletic in-built.
Jude Ajunwa,
her leader brother said that during her school days, she competed mostly with
boys and often beat them up in fights. Chioma was stronger than most boys of
her peers. It may surprise you to know that Chioma even tried her hand as a
motor mechanic. She later left the career due to our mother’s incessant
disapproval.
Ajunwa was
later recruited into the Police force due to her athletic prowess. While at the
Police College, Ajunwa excelled in several sports. She became a black belt
holder in Taekwondo and also a good Judoka.
Presently,
Ajunwa has grown to a Commissioner of Police (CP) after she retired from active
sports. She is our Super Athlete this Centenary.
