Jessica Oji Wins Historic World U20 Shot Put Gold for Nigeria

Jessica Oji has made history for Nigeria by winning gold in the women’s shot put at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The 19-year-old threw 18.08 metres to claim the title and became Nigeria’s first World U20 champion in a field event. She was the only athlete in the final to break the 18-metre mark, opening with 18.05m before reaching her winning distance. Her victory surpasses Nigeria’s previous field-event medals at the competition: Esther Aghatise’s long-jump silver in 2002 and Chinecherem Nnamdi’s javelin bronze in 2021. Oji had earlier won silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after switching her international allegiance from the United States to Nigeria. The result is a major boost for Nigerian athletics and highlights Oji as one of the country’s most promising young field-event athletes.

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