Chioma Ajunwa, an Olympic gold medallist, says she is grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians for the Centenary Award given to her in Global Sports Competition category in Abuja on Friday.
Ajunwa expressed her feelings in an
interview on Sunday in Lagos.
*Ajunwa
“I’m excited to be honoured for the
second time after 14 years of outstanding performance in sports development in
the country.
“I must confess that it makes me
feel great.
“When I was in the race, I never
knew that a day like this will come,” Ajunwa said.
Ajunwa was among the five heroes
that received awards in the Global Sports Competition category at the
just-concluded Centenary Awards ceremony in Abuja.
She had earlier been honoured as a
Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the then Head of State, Gen. Sani
Abacha, for her outstanding performance which won her the gold medal in Long
Jump at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, U.S.
The 1991 All Africa Games gold
medallist in long jump charged athletes to aim at bringing glory to the nation
in every competition.
“I task athletes to take advantage
of their youthful ages to make an impact in any endeavour because people are
watching and taking record.
“The reward might not come
immediately but overtime; even when you may have forgotten, you will be
remembered, just like me.
“I dedicate this award to the
Almighty,” she said.
Ajunwa, who is also a police
officer, reiterated her commitment to the development of track and field
events, as a way of transferring her wealth of knowledge to the younger ones.
“I am aware of some upcoming
athletes, majoring in track and field that see me as their role model.
“I am ready to give them the
necessary assistance.
“My experience in this field has
prepared me for a task of giving back to the younger ones, to assist them to do
better than I have done,” she said.
NAN reports that Ajunwa was
Nigeria’s first female Olympic gold medallist after giving her best in long
jump at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, U.S.
Vanguard
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