Chioma Ajunwa
Encyclopedia
Chioma Ajunwa (born December 25, 1970 in Ahiara
Mbaise
Imo State
), is a former athlete from Nigeria
, who previously played football for the Nigerian women's team
. She is the first Nigerian to win an Olympic
gold medal
as well as the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event. She won the women's long jump
at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, with a jump of 7.12m in her first attempt in the final. She was also an officer in the Nigeria Police Force at the time.
She won a gold medal in the 1991 All-Africa Games
. She was banned from the sport for four years after failing a doping test in 1992.
Following her winning of Olympic gold medal at 1996 Summer Olympic Games at Atlanta, United States, Chioma Ajunwa was given a national award - Member of the Order of Niger (MON)- by the then Head of State of Nigeria Sani Abacha. The whole nation stood still and watched with joy as Chioma stepped forward to receive the award, adorning the first individual Olympic gold to be ever won by a Nigerian.
Community Chieftaincy Title
Immediately after, Chioma was received by her home State - Imo State. Her community proudly bestowed on her a chieftaincy title. A rare thing for a young woman of her age!
Nigeria Golden Jubilee Independence Awards
On October 1, 2010, Nigeria celebrated with funfare its 50th Independence anniversary. As part of that celebration, on Thursday September 30, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan conferred special Golden Jubilee Independence Awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians and friends of Nigeria including Chioma Ajunwa for their various roles and contributions to the development of the country.
Being selected from among millions of other achievers and listed among the founding fathers of Nigerian nation, most of whom Chioma read about in History class made Chioma to say "It is the Lord's doing. I am grateful to God". This award no doubt will further intensify the patriotic fire that burns in her heart for Nigeria and Nigerians.
2. Member of Committee on the Revival of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Competitions. 2011
In the second half of the year 2010, Chioma stepped up her anti-doping activities by starting an integrated campaign aptly tagged 'Compete Fair & Clean'. This initiative which she has so far personally financed involves communicating anti-doping messages directly to budding athletes and their coaches at athletic events. Awareness and Red-flag workshops and seminars are being organised with kind cooperation of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). She also enjoys the support and solidarity of former national athletes. At athletic meets, banners are placed at stadiums and informative publications as well as t-shirts with punchy anti-doping messages are given to athletes and coaches. The response of the target audience has been massive.
Ahiara
Ahiara is an Igbo city located in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria. The people are respected for their ingenuity and diplomacy. The city stands about 16 miles from Owere and Umuahia in either directions...
Mbaise
Mbaise
Mbaise is a region and a people located in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria. Set in the heart of Igboland, it includes several towns and cities. The name "Mbaise" was derived from five cities: Agbaaja, Ahiara, Ekwereazu, Ezi na Ihite and Oke Uvuru...
Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
), is a former athlete from Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, who previously played football for the Nigerian women's team
Nigeria women's national football team
The Nigeria national women's football team, nicknamed the Super Falcons, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation...
. She is the first Nigerian to win an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
as well as the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event. She won the women's long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, with a jump of 7.12m in her first attempt in the final. She was also an officer in the Nigeria Police Force at the time.
She won a gold medal in the 1991 All-Africa Games
Athletics at the 1991 All-Africa Games
The fourth All-Africa Games were held in September 1991 in Cairo, Egypt.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-External links:*...
. She was banned from the sport for four years after failing a doping test in 1992.
Awards and Recognitions
Member of the Order of NigerFollowing her winning of Olympic gold medal at 1996 Summer Olympic Games at Atlanta, United States, Chioma Ajunwa was given a national award - Member of the Order of Niger (MON)- by the then Head of State of Nigeria Sani Abacha. The whole nation stood still and watched with joy as Chioma stepped forward to receive the award, adorning the first individual Olympic gold to be ever won by a Nigerian.
Community Chieftaincy Title
Immediately after, Chioma was received by her home State - Imo State. Her community proudly bestowed on her a chieftaincy title. A rare thing for a young woman of her age!
Nigeria Golden Jubilee Independence Awards
On October 1, 2010, Nigeria celebrated with funfare its 50th Independence anniversary. As part of that celebration, on Thursday September 30, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan conferred special Golden Jubilee Independence Awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians and friends of Nigeria including Chioma Ajunwa for their various roles and contributions to the development of the country.
Being selected from among millions of other achievers and listed among the founding fathers of Nigerian nation, most of whom Chioma read about in History class made Chioma to say "It is the Lord's doing. I am grateful to God". This award no doubt will further intensify the patriotic fire that burns in her heart for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Appointments and Membership of Bodies
1. chairperson of the Women’s Development Committee of Imo State Football Association. - 20112. Member of Committee on the Revival of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Competitions. 2011
Chioma's Anti-Doping Activities
On Friday April 30, 2010 Chioma Ajunwa delivered a powerful paper on “War against the use of illicit Drugs in Sports” at an Interactive Session organized by Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for Athletes as part of 3rd Leg of AFN Golden League at Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos. The abridged version of this paper titled “Fighting the Root Causes of Doping in Athletics” is available on the cyberspace.In the second half of the year 2010, Chioma stepped up her anti-doping activities by starting an integrated campaign aptly tagged 'Compete Fair & Clean'. This initiative which she has so far personally financed involves communicating anti-doping messages directly to budding athletes and their coaches at athletic events. Awareness and Red-flag workshops and seminars are being organised with kind cooperation of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). She also enjoys the support and solidarity of former national athletes. At athletic meets, banners are placed at stadiums and informative publications as well as t-shirts with punchy anti-doping messages are given to athletes and coaches. The response of the target audience has been massive.
See also
- List of champions of Africa of athletics
- List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences