Daniel Igali facts for kids
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| Nationality |  Nigeria Canada |
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| Born | February 3, 1974 Eniwari, Bayelsa State, Nigeria |
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Medal record
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Baraladei Daniel Igali (born February 3, 1974) is a famous Nigerian-Canadian wrestler. He made history by winning Canada's first ever Olympic gold medal in wrestling. This happened at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He is still Canada's only male Olympic gold medalist in wrestling.
Contents
Daniel Igali's Wrestling Journey
Starting in Canada
Daniel Igali was the captain of Nigeria's wrestling team. He first came to Canada for the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Because of problems in his home country, Nigeria, he decided to stay in Canada. He became a Canadian citizen in 1998.
College Wrestling Success
Igali went to Douglas College and then to Simon Fraser University. There, he studied criminology. He wrestled for Simon Fraser University from 1997 to 1999. He won three NAIA Championships in a row. His college wrestling record was amazing: 116 wins and 0 losses! He also won special awards for getting the most pins.
Olympic and Commonwealth Games Medals
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Daniel Igali won a gold medal. This was for men's 69 kg freestyle wrestling. It was a huge moment for Canada!
He continued his success at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. There, he won another gold medal in men's 74 kg freestyle wrestling.
Honors and Recognition
In 2007, Igali was honored by being added to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Later, in 2012, he was also inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. These honors show how important his achievements were.
Life After Competing
Daniel Igali's wrestling story was even made into a TV show. It was a documentary called "Wrestling with Destiny: The Life and Times of Daniel Igali." It was shown on CBC Television in 2004.
In 2013, Igali became the first elected president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation. He helped make the Nigerian wrestling team very strong. They had high hopes for medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In September 2022, he was chosen to be a board member for United World Wrestling (UWW).
Daniel Igali's Personal Life
Education and Coaching
Daniel Igali earned a Master of Arts degree in criminology from Simon Fraser University. He also attended Douglas College. While studying, he trained and helped coach at Simon Fraser University. He is currently the coach of the Nigerian National Wrestling Team.
Community Involvement
In 2012, Daniel Igali was recognized as one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants. This award celebrates immigrants who have made a big difference in Canada. He has also served as a member of the Bayelsa State assembly in Nigeria. He was also the sports commissioner there.
Images for kids
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Olympic rings symbol
See also
In Spanish: Daniel Igali para niños
