Chioma Ajunwa is a former Nigerian track and field athlete who made history as Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist. Born on December 25, 1970, in Umuihiokwu, Nigeria, Ajunwa began her sporting career as a sprinter before transitioning to long jump.
Ajunwa rose to prominence at the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, USA. She competed in the women’s long jump event, where she stunned the world by winning the gold medal with a leap of 7.12 meters (23 feet 4 1/4 inches). This remarkable achievement not only made her the first Nigerian to win an Olympic gold medal but also the first African woman to claim gold in the long jump at the Olympics.
Her victory at the Atlanta Olympics brought immense pride to Nigeria and earned her recognition as a national hero. Ajunwa’s success was particularly significant as it came at a time when Nigerian athletics was struggling to make an impact on the global stage.
Prior to her Olympic triumph, Ajunwa had faced challenges in her career, including a suspension for alleged drug use. However, she vehemently denied the accusations and was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.
After retiring from athletics, Chioma Ajunwa pursued a career in law enforcement. She joined the Nigerian Police Force, where she served as a police officer, rising through the ranks to become an Assistant Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Last year, she retired from the Nigeria Police Force after 35 years of meritorious service.
Ajunwa’s legacy as Nigeria’s pioneering Olympic champion and her contributions to both athletics and law enforcement continue to inspire many Nigerians, particularly aspiring athletes and women seeking to excel in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Here’s why we consider her a woman giant;
- Ms Ajunwa is the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event.
- Ms Ajunwa is also a member of the Nigerian Police Force. She remains the only woman to compete at both the FIFA Women’s World Cup as a footballer and the Olympics as a track and field athlete.
- On 1 October 2010, Nigeria celebrated its 50th Independence anniversary. As part of that celebration, on Thursday 30 September 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan conferred special Golden Jubilee Independence Awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians and friends of Nigeria including Ms Ajunwa for their contributions to the development of the country.
