Today in History: Before Asamoah Gyan, Ghana had a ‘Baby Jet’ called Alice Annum

Long before Asamoah Gyan became synonymous with the nickname ‘Baby Jet’ in Ghanaian football, a Ghanaian woman was already making her name fly on the athletics track.

Her name was Alice Annum, one of the country’s pioneering sprint queens who carried Ghana’s flag onto the Olympic stage.

Born on October 20, 1948, in Accra, Annum turns 78 today, October 20, 2026, providing an opportunity to revisit the remarkable career of a sporting icon whose achievements deserve a prominent place in Ghana’s sporting history.

Known as ‘Baby Jet’, Annum was not just another athlete in Ghana’s sporting history. She was a trailblazer who helped open doors for Ghanaian women in international athletics, becoming the first woman to represent the country at the Olympic Games.

While football fans readily associate the nickname ‘Baby Jet’ with former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan, Annum’s story offers a fascinating reminder that Ghana’s sporting history had its own version of the name long before Gyan became famous for his goals and celebrations.

A trailblazer on the Olympic stage

Annum’s Olympic journey began at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where she competed in the women’s long jump. Although she did not progress beyond the qualifying stage, the experience marked an important chapter in the career of a young Ghanaian athlete competing against the world’s best.

She subsequently represented Ghana at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City and the 1972 Games in Munich, Germany.

It was in Munich that Annum delivered some of the most memorable performances of her career. She finished sixth in the women’s 100 metres and seventh in the 200 metres, establishing herself among the leading competitors in international women’s sprinting.

Her performance in the 200 metres was particularly notable. Annum recorded a personal best of 22.89 seconds on September 7, 1972, according to World Athletics, a time that remains a significant marker of her career.

Her achievements were all the more remarkable in an era when female athletes from Africa faced considerable barriers to international recognition, resources and professional development.

Gold, silver and bronze: A career built on excellence

Annum’s achievements extended well beyond the Olympic Games. She demonstrated her versatility by competing in sprint events and the long jump, winning medals at major continental and Commonwealth competitions.

At the 1965 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, she won gold in the long jump, establishing herself as a force to reckon with in African athletics.

Five years later, at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, Annum claimed silver medals in both the women’s 100 metres and 200 metres.

Those performances confirmed her ability to compete at the highest level and placed her among Ghana’s outstanding international athletes of the period.

She returned to continental competition in 1973 at the All-Africa Games in Lagos, Nigeria, where she won gold in both the 100 metres and 200 metres.

The double triumph was a major achievement, underlining her dominance in African women’s sprinting and adding to a growing collection of medals earned in Ghana’s colours.

At the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, she won bronze in the 200 metres, further extending her record of international success.

Across these competitions, Annum’s medal-winning performances established a legacy that reached beyond individual races. She helped demonstrate that Ghanaian women could compete successfully on major international sporting platforms.

The athlete behind the nickname

Annum’s rise came during a period when Ghana relied on organised sports competitions and opportunities abroad to develop its athletic talent. She participated in the country’s now-defunct National Sports Festivals, which provided a platform for athletes to showcase their abilities.

She also benefited from sponsorship opportunities for Ghanaian athletes in the United States and competed for the University of Tennessee.

These opportunities helped expose her to international competition and training environments at a time when such pathways were not readily available to every Ghanaian athlete.

Her story also reflects the importance of investing in grassroots sports, identifying talent early and creating opportunities for athletes to develop their potential.

Although Annum did not win an Olympic medal, her appearances in three Olympic Games and her performances at the Commonwealth and All-Africa Games made her one of Ghana’s notable athletics pioneers.

Remembering a sporting icon

In 2010, Annum was honoured by the Action Progressive Institute in Ghana in recognition of her contributions to sports.

Her career remains an important reference point in discussions about Ghana’s sporting heritage, particularly the achievements of women who competed internationally when female representation in elite athletics was still developing.

As Ghana celebrates another edition of ‘Today in History’, Annum’s birthday offers a chance to look beyond the country’s celebrated football stars and remember the athletes who helped build its international sporting reputation.

Asamoah Gyan may have made ‘Baby Jet’ a household name among football fans, but Alice Annum’s achievements on the track tell a story of their own.

Long before the nickname became a familiar part of Ghanaian football culture, Annum was sprinting her way into the record books, winning medals and representing her country against the world’s best.

And that is what makes her story worth remembering. Ghana’s original ‘Baby Jet’ was not chasing goals on a football pitch. She was chasing the finish line—and making history along the way.

EA