Ghana has produced many talented athletes over the years, but few have had as much impact as Alice Annum. Born on June 20, 1959, in Accra, Annum began her career as a sprinter and quickly rose to national and international acclaim. She represented Ghana in three consecutive Olympic Games, starting with the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and went on to win multiple medals at the African Championships and Commonwealth Games. Annum was a trailblazer for Ghanaian athletics and an inspiration to many young athletes in the country. In this article, we will explore her life, achievements, and legacy.
Early Life and Career
Alice Annum was born in Accra, Ghana, in 1959. She grew up in a family of 10 children and discovered her love for athletics at a young age. Annum began her career as a sprinter in the early 1970s and quickly showed great potential. In 1974, she won her first national title in the 200 meters, and in 1976, she represented Ghana for the first time at the African Championships in Athletics, where she won a silver medal in the 200 meters.
International Success
Annum’s international success began in earnest in 1979, when she won gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×100 meters relay at the African Championships in Athletics. She continued her winning streak at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, where she competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×100 meters relay. Although she did not win a medal, Annum set a national record in the 100 meters and earned widespread acclaim for her performance.
Annum’s greatest achievements came at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia, where she won three gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×100 meters relay. She followed up this success with another gold medal in the 200 meters at the 1984 African Championships in Athletics.
Legacy
Alice Annum’s impact on Ghanaian athletics cannot be overstated. She was the first Ghanaian woman to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and was a trailblazer for women’s athletics in the country. Annum inspired a generation of young athletes, and her legacy lives on today in the many athletes who have followed in her footsteps.
In recognition of her achievements, Annum was awarded the Order of the Volta, one of Ghana’s highest honors, in 1982. She retired from athletics in the mid-1980s and went on to work as a coach and administrator. Annum’s contributions to Ghanaian athletics were recognized again in 2013, when she was inducted into the Ghana Athletics Association Hall of Fame.
Alice Annum’s achievements as an athlete and trailblazer for women’s athletics in Ghana are a testament to her dedication, hard work, and talent. She will always be remembered as one of Ghana’s greatest athletes and an inspiration to many young people in the country.
