Lots of Gold

[DoubleRBar]

Happy birthday today (Wednesday) to an Olympic gold medalist who turns 45 years this day in December. This champion holds the national record for the nation this athlete represented in winning the Olympic gold medal.

Our birthday person won gold, not only at the Olympic Games, but also at the World Championships, the NCAA Championships, the World Indoor Championships, and the World Cup.

When talking about our birthday athlete, you might say "Field and Track". This champion shares the same initials as another Olympic champion from the same Olympic Games. Both champions won their gold medals off the track.

Enough clues. You know this person. Now name our Olympic gold medalist born 45 years ago today.

[Daisy]

Is he a high jumper? I'm thinking that Charles Austin hits quite a few of these clues. Not sure on the second athlete though, I can't think of another CA from Atlanta off the top of my head.

[DoubleRBar]

Daisy, you are good. Happy 45th birthday today to Charles Austin, the American record holder in the men's high jump (2.40) and the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the high jump.

Now, what other person with the same initials won Olympic gold in Atlanta? Do you want some hints?

This person is three years younger than Charles Austin and will celebrate a 42nd birthday on Christmas Day. Also, this athlete was the first from their nation to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field.

[dukehjsteve]

I looked it up, and although a big Track Fan, I must confess I did not remember (him/her) at all !

[DoubleRBar]

Lots of people might remember the competition because of who finished in third place with the bronze medal.

[Daisy]

So you know, I'm still thinking, although after this amount of time I'm assuming I'm going to draw a blank.

[Pego]

I looked it up, and although a big Track Fan, I must confess I did not remember (him/her) at all !

Ditto.

[DoubleRBar]

We are talking about a women's field event. The favorite going into the 1996 Atlanta Olympics was an American who already owned an Olympic gold and an Olympic bronze medal in this field event.

This American athlete was suffering from a hamstring injury. The woman with the same initials as Charles Austin is from Africa. She just missed making the women's 100 meter final in Atlanta (won by Gail Devers).

The African lady with the same initials as Charles Austin was suspended for four years in 1992 for drug usage. She was also banned from her country's soccer team as well as the track and field team.

She used her great speed to win the gold medal on her first jump (there's a hint). The American jumper made her best leap on her last effort (sixth jump) to move to third place. That bronze medal was her last Olympic medal of her great career (six Olympic medals).

Like Charles Austin, this Olympic champion's first name begins with "Ch". Her last name, like Charles Austin, contains six letters.

[lonewolf]

That would be the little girl from, I believe,Nigeria, whom I had never heard of. I worked that event but cannot recall her a name. I do remember it started with an A and that Fiona May of Italy was 2nd and JJK third.

[DoubleRBar]

You are right, lonewolf. She is from Nigeria.

[Daisy]

In short, we're useless

[DoubleRBar]

Unscramble these twelve letters to get her first and last name.

MIAHOC JUNAUW

The last two letters of her last name are the same as the state of Washington's postal abbreviation.
The last two letters of her first name are a common abbreviation for the word "mother".

[lonewolf]

That works out to be Chioma Anjuwa...

[DoubleRBar]

And lonewolf comes up with the correct answer. Chioma Ajunwa is a name most people don't know and I wonder how many people in Nigeria would know her.

[Daisy]

I wonder how many people in Nigeria would know her.

That is an interesting thought. I know some Nigerians, so I'm going to try a straw poll.

[noone]

And lonewolf comes up with the correct answer. Chioma Ajunwa is a name most people don't know and I wonder how many people in Nigeria would know her.

That was Nigeria's first ever Olympic gold medal. But the next day the men's soccer team won gold, and for Nigerians that totally eclipsed Ajunwa's feat.