Mary Onyali, Beatrice Utondu, Christy Opara-Thompson, and Faith Idehen became the face of Nigerian female athletics after they came third in the women’s 4x100m relay at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, earning each of them bronze medals. They were the first Nigerian women to win Olympic medals but that was not what landed them a spot in one of the most prolific Olympic ads of all time. It was their reaction. These women, who were relative outsiders on the international racing scene, celebrated third place like no team had before, prompting the iconic Celebrate Humanity ad campaign. “Just a reminder, at the Olympic Games you don’t have to come in first to win.”
“Though injury and traditional cultural gender norms would threaten their chances of competing in those Olympics at all, they would leave Barcelona that summer as the first Nigerian women to win Olympic medals,” said writer, Ann-Derrick Gaillot in her piece about women sport stories that would make great films. True to this, the sports scene in Nigeria has never been without challenges; from general issues like a lack of funding to specific issues like gender/cultural norms that female athletes face. Yet, Nigerian athletes often ride the waves of these challenges, making their mark on the global stage during international competitions.
On August 2, 1996, 26-year-old Chioma Ajunwa’s leap of 7.12m at the Olympics long jump final marked a significant achievement not just for Nigeria, but for the African continent and especially for female athletes, as she became the first Nigerian and the first African woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Over the years, Ajunwa has become a popular point of reference in the history of Nigerian sport, but at the time of her win, the young woman had just come out of a four year suspension from track and field for failing a drug test.
Athough she went on to win other titles, Ajunwa, like a host of our athletes today, faced several challenges as she recently revealed to CNN. “While I was competing, each time I have injury or anything I’m on my own. My country never took care of that,” she said. “Nigeria will only want [you] when you’re winning, they will like you when you’re winning. The moment you’re not winning they’ll abandon you.”
Sadly, Ajunwa’s story rings true till this day. The journey to the ongoing Olympic Games in Brazil has been anything but easy for Team Nigeria; from very poor preparation and last minute funding, to getting stranded in international airports and succumbing to raising funds on Kickstarter. This is all thanks to a failed government system, an administration with zero sportsmanship and lawmakers who care very little for their country. In spite of these hurdles, Nigerian athletes remain dauntless and as always, are making their mark in Rio starting with the Dream Team’s victory against Japan last Thursday, to Chierika Ukogu’s notable appearance in rowing.
