Jessica Oji secures Nigeria’s first field event World Title

… after Nigeria’s strong Commonwealth Games showing

For the first time in history, a Nigerian athlete has won a Field event world title at any level. Jessica Oji of Team Nigeria won the women’s shot put gold medal at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon with a throw of 18.08 metres. She became the first Nigerian athlete to win a world title in a field event at any level.

Oji produced throws of 18.05m, 18.08m and 18.07m in the final and was the only competitor to exceed 18 metres.

This result follows Team Nigeria’s performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, which ran from 23 July to 2 August. Team Nigeria won 10 gold medals, 7 silver medals and 7 bronze medals for a total of 24 medals and finished seventh on the medal table. Australia led with 70 gold medals, followed by England, Canada, India, Scotland and New Zealand.

Jessica Oji contributed a silver medal in the women’s shot put at the Commonwealth Games. Samuel Ogazi won gold in the men’s 400m in a Games record time of 44.25 seconds, the first Nigerian victory in that event. Ezekiel Nathaniel took gold in the men’s 400m hurdles, Nigeria’s first in the discipline. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi claimed gold in the men’s shot put with 21.07m, Nigeria’s first title in the event.

Temitope Adeshina won bronze in the women’s high jump with 1.90m, Nigeria’s first medal in the event since 1966. Goodness Nwachukwu defended her title in the women’s para discus F42-44/61-64 and set a world record. Folashade Oluwafemiayo won gold in women’s heavyweight para-powerlifting and set a world record of 175kg. Rafiatu Lawal won gold in the women’s 58kg weightlifting and set Commonwealth Games records.