Twelve years after he was rumoured to have died, Nigeria’s first Olympic medallist, Nojim Maiyegun, finally breathed his last on Monday, August 26, at the age of 83.
Reportedly born in Lagos on 17th February 1941, the octogenarian, who disclosed his loss of sight in 2012, died of natural causes at his base in Vienna, Austria, where he has been living for years.
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 a few days after the 60th anniversary of his feat in the boxing event at the Olympics in Tokyo on 10th August, 1964.
A source in Maiyegun’s home in Vienna confirmed his death to NationSport last night, adding that the great man will forever be remembered.
“Yes, it is true ( Maiyegun’s death),” the source responded with four love emojis. “Rest in Peace; he was the greatest man on this planet and we will always love him.”
