Nigerian monitor and discipline legend Chioma Ajunwa has make clear the challenges confronted by athletes in Nigeria, revealing that she obtained minimal assist from the nation in preparation for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Ajunwa made historical past by changing into the primary Nigerian to win a gold medal on the Video games together with her exceptional 7.12m leap within the ladies’s lengthy leap occasion.
Ajunwa, who secured her gold medal only a day earlier than Nigeria’s Dream Group received gold in soccer, recounted her journey in an interview with Channels TV. She defined that regardless of her monumental achievement, she struggled to get the required assist from Nigeria’s sports authorities.
“Profitable the Olympics was the very best factor to ever occur to me,” Ajunwa mentioned. “I by no means thought I’d get the gold medal, however God blessed me with it.”
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She highlighted that her success was largely resulting from her personal arduous work and the assist of Chief Dr. Segun Odegbami, a former Inexperienced Eagles legend, who helped her get the coaching she wanted overseas. “I labored very arduous, personally, not with the assistance of Nigeria, however with the assistance of God and Chief Dr. Segun Odegbami, who took me exterior the nation to verify I received good coaching,” she added.
Ajunwa criticized the Nigerian athletics federation for its lack of assist and poor administration of athletes. She emphasised that profitable an Olympic medal requires years of preparation and correct assist, which she feels is usually missing in Nigeria.
“To win an Olympic medal just isn’t a straightforward factor. Each nation involves the Olympics with the purpose of profitable gold,” Ajunwa famous. “So that you can put together, they provide you 4 years. It’s not one thing you’ll be able to obtain in six months or three months.”
She additional criticized the present state of athlete coaching in Nigeria, stating that athletes usually practice with out correct oversight and assist. “Athletes are making ready on their very own. It’s like going to coaching and deciding to press your cellphone as an alternative of focusing in your exercise,” she mentioned. “When athletes practice alone, they chill out when drained, however with coaches, they’re motivated to push by way of.”
Ajunwa known as for vital enhancements within the coaching and assist techniques for Nigerian athletes, emphasising that correct preparations and monitoring are essential for his or her success. “Our nation must make correct preparations for the coaching of our athletes,” she concluded.