Atlanta 96: I was nervous before my gold medal jump -Ajunwa
By Akeem Busari
It was an emotional moment as Atlanta 1996 Olympic long jump gold medallist Chioma Ajunwa recalled moments before she took the first and eventual historic gold winning jump.
Ajunwa, while speaking at a press briefing in Lagos to herald the elaborate activities lined up by Great Dynamic Talents Limited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her historic Olympic feat said, ” I was afraid and nervous before I took my first jump. Seeing all the other contestants warming up and down was indeed, a nervous moment for me.”
” However, I braced up courageously and remembered all the prayers, well wishes and words of encouragement I had received from different people. Thank God, my first jump won me, Nigeria and Africa, the first ever Olympic Games individual gold medal,” the former Super Falcons player recalled with fond nostalgia.
Also speaking at the well attended event, Chief Executive Officer of Great Dynamic Talents Limited, Amb.(Rev) Samuel Ikpea revealed the plans of his company to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ajunwa’s feat at the Olympics, which include a symposium, as well as a creative musical tagged Ajunwa: ‘The Trials and Triumph.’
” We decided to celebrate this Nigerian and African legend while she is still alive for the historic feat she achieved 25 years ago in far away Atlanta, Georgia, USA during the 1996 Olympic games.
” Chioma Ajunwa is a great woman and at Great Dynamic Talents, we believe that we should celebrate our heroes and heroines while alive, and show them our genuine appreciation for what they have done for us,” Amb. Ikpea remarked.
He went further to disclose that the celebrations of Chioma Ajunwa will begin on August 2nd a symbolic date for her Olympic games feat, as well as, 6th, and 7th, 2021, at the prestigious Shell Muson Centre in Lagos.
According to Amb. Ikpea, who is also the National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, further plans will also see Chioma Ajunwa and the organizers, visiting the 36 States Governors of Nigeria and presenting with a replica of the historic Olympic gold medal.
