Almost three decades after winning Nigeria’s first Olympic gold medal at Atlanta ‘96, Chioma Ajunwa, remains one of the most celebrated athletes in Nigeria’s sports history. Ajunwa, Nigeria’s only individual Olympic gold medalist and a national hero, captured the long jump gold medal at Atlanta ‘96 Olympics with a leap of 7.5 metres.
Ajunwa has been a multi-sports athlete from her childhood. She was always playing football within the boys in the streets. This was where her potentials were spotted by the scouts of the Nigeria Police Force as she was recruited into the force. A talent-hunting ground for exceptional athletes, the Nigeria Police Force has a dedicated sports department that focuses on promoting sports within the force and representing Nigeria in various sporting events.
The former track and field athlete won gold medals in the long jump in 1989 at the African Championships and at the All-Africa Games in 1991 and was a member of the Nigerian women’s team that was the sole African representative at the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 in China. At the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, Ajunwa was a member the Nigerian 4 x 100m relay team that won the bronze medal.
Chioma Ajunwa broke barriers and crossed boundaries to accomplish a great many firsts. Apart from winning Nigeria’s first Olympic gold medal, Ajunwa was the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event. 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.
The mum of triplets was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2017. Before her promotion she was the Deputy Commandant Police Training School Ikeja, Lagos. Ajunwa launched Chioma Ajunwa-Opara Foundation in 2017 as a vehicle to hunt for talents in sports. She also started a self-funded anti-doping campaign called “Compete Fair and Clear” through which she spreads anti-doping messages to athletes and coaches all over the country.
Chioma Ajunwa’s journey is a rare combination of talent, tenacity, and triumph across three distinct arenas—football, athletics, and national service. From representing Nigeria at the FIFA Women’s World Cup to making history as the first African woman to win Olympic gold in a field event, and rising through the ranks as a decorated police officer, her life defies the boundaries of limitations. Ajunwa is more than a sports icon; she is a symbol of discipline, resilience, and patriotic excellence. Her legacy stands tall, inspiring a new generation to believe that greatness knows no limits when passion and hardwork meets purpose.
References:
- “Biography of Chioma Ajunwa” By Document Women September 15, 2021
- “Chioma Ajunwa: A Leap in Black History”. By Colin Apata, 13 February, 2025.
- “Emerging talents thrill Ajunwa as U-16 athletics championship ends in Abia” By Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia. 3 April 2018
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Contributions from Niyi Akinola
Edited by Bimbo Ajayi
