Countdown
The IAAF is deeply shocked and saddened to receive news of the death yesterday (12) of Sunday Bada, the 1997 IAAF World Indoor champion at 400m. Bada at the time of his sudden passing was Technical Director of The Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
Sunday Bada (Nigeria; Born 22 June 1969) who died at the National Stadium, Lagos on Monday evening, was a former specialist quarter miler of great international renown. A three time 400m medallist at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, he took silvers in 1993 (Toronto, Canada) and 1995 (Barcelona, Spain) before setting a still standing African indoor record of 45.51sec, to take the gold medal in Paris, France in 1997.
The IAAF World Cup winner over the one lap in Havana, Cuba in 1992, Bada’s personal best time outdoors came at the 1993 IAAF World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany when he ran 44.63 in the semi-final round. In the final he came fifth which was his highest ever individual placing at the outdoor Worlds or Olympic Games.
A member of the Nigerian 4x400m squad which took bronze at the 1995 IAAF World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, Bada was also in the quartet which struck silver (later upgraded to gold on the disqualification of the USA) at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The IAAF on behalf of the global athletics family offers its condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Sunday Bada who will be sadly missed.
IAAF
