- She is a former Nigerian track and field athlete and football player
- She was the first Nigerian to win gold at the Olympic Games
- She was the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event
Chioma Ajunwa-Opara is a Nigerian former track and field athlete and football player. She is the first Nigerian to win gold at the Olympic Games and the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event.
Her career was so successful and she got several awards including a long jump medal at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996.
Ajunwa started her athletic career as a footballer when she played for the Nigeria women’s national team best known as the Falcons.
She then switched to track and field, soon becoming one of the best long jumpers in Africa.
Personal Life
Chioma Ajunwa-Opara was born on December 25 1970 in Umuihiokwu, Ahiazu-Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria in a family of nine children, six boys and three girls.
Chioma Ajunwa-Opara. Photo/The Guardian Nigeria
Her father passed away when the player was still young leaving the children under their mother’s care.
Ajunwa started her athletic career as a footballer where she played for the Nigeria women’s national team, the Falcons and later switched to track and field, becoming one of the best long jumpers in Africa.
The athlete was admitted to the University of Nigeria but did not register as her mother was not in a financial position to pay the fees. Instead, she opted to train as an automobile mechanic.
The athlete is married and has two children. She is a strong advocate for women’s empowerment and a role model for young girls.
She is the founder of Ajunwa-Opara Foundation whose main initiative is to discover new Nigerian stars in sports by providing financial support and training to young athletes.
Career
Chioma Ajunwa-Opara had a very successful career as a track and field athlete who specialized in the long jump.
Ajunwa began her athletic career as a footballer where she played for the Nigeria women’s national team, Falcons but later switched to track and field, where she became one of the best long jumpers in Africa.
She won the long jump gold medal at the African championships in Cairo, Egypt and competed at the FIFA Women’s World Cup where Nigeria reached the quarterfinals.
Chioma Ajunwa-Opara. Photo/Wuzup.Nigeria
Her greatest achievement was at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta when she won the long jump gold medal and became the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold in a field event.
After the Olympics, she won another gold medal at the African Championships and a silver medal the following year at the World Championships. Ajunwa retired from competition in 2000.
What is Chioma Ajunwa doing after retirement?
After retirement from competition, Ajunwa became a police officer in Nigeria and is also a motivational speaker and an advocate for women’s empowerment.
The former athlete launched the Chioma Ajunwa-Opara Foundation in 2017, with an initiative to discover new Nigerian stars in sports.
The foundation also provides financial support and training to young athletes.
How rich is Chioma Ajunwa?
Chioma Ajunwa’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million, having garnered her wealth through her successful career as a track and field athlete.
In addition to her athletic career, she also worked as a police officer and as a motivational speaker and her earnings contribute to her wealth.
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