Nojim Maiyegun made history by winning Nigeria’s first ever medal at the Olympics, a bronze medal in the men’s Light Middleweight (71 kg) category of the boxing event at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
The boxer passed away in Vienna, Austria on Monday, 26 August 2024, at the age of 83. Multiple sources confirmed that Maiyegun died of natural causes after being in and out of the hospital for the past six months.
Known to have been visually impaired for several years, Maiyegun’s condition had reportedly worsened before his death.
Competing in the light middleweight category, Maiyegun shared the bronze medal with Poland’s Józef Grzesiak after both boxers lost in the semifinals. At the Olympics, both semifinal losers are traditionally awarded bronze, as there is no third-place bout.
His achievement in Tokyo ended Nigeria’s 12-year medal drought at the Olympics, following the country’s first appearance at the Helsinki 1952 Games.
Mayegun also on bronze medal for Nigeria in the men’s Light Middleweight (71 kg) category of the boxing event, at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.
