Emmanuel Ifeajuna
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing  Nigeria
|
||
| British Empire and Commonwealth Games | ||
 |
1954 Vancouver | High jump |
Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna (1935 – 25 September 1967) was a Nigerian army major and high jumper who played a principal role in the January 15, 1966 military coup, an event that derailed Nigeria's nascent democracy and introduced military rule to Nigeria. He was the first Black African to win a gold medal at an international sports event when he won at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. His winning mark and personal best of 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) was a games record and a British Empire record at the time.
An Igbo from Onitsha, he was a science graduate University College of Ibadan and became involved in politics, later joining the military.
Born in Onitsha, he attended Dennis Memorial Grammar School in his home town and displayed the characteristics that would later define his life. He trained in the high jump under his games teacher, and he also took part in a protest that closed down the school for a term. He graduated from high school in 1951. Ilesa Grammar School also claims him as a past alumnus. This is disputed, although he did do summer school teaching at the institution.
The 1954 Nigerian Athletics Championships saw him establish himself among the nation's best high jumpers. A jump of 6 foot 5.5 inches (1.97 m) meant Ifeajuna was chosen to represent his country at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, alongside Nafiu Osagie. Nigeria performed well internationally in the high jump in that period – Joshua Majekodunmi had been runner-up at the 1950 British Empire Games, and three Nigerian jumpers made the top twenty at the 1952 Olympic high jump.
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