Jessica Oji Wins Historic World U20 Athletics Championships Shot Put Gold

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nineteen-year-old Jessica Oji early hours of Friday became the first Nigerian to win a world title in a field event at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, United States.

Oji heaved a massive 18.08 metres to take the women’s shot put event gold, leaving the silver medal for Belsy Jenniffer Quiñonez (17.90m) of Ecuador while Emily Scherf (17.23m) of Germany settled for the bronze.

The feat of Oji is coming up barely one week after winning a silver medal at her first competition in Nigeria’s colours at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

She didn’t leave anyone in doubt about her capacity to take the gold medal at the World U20. Oji kicked off her campaign with 18.05m, before she improved to her winning throw of 18.08m. Her third effort was 17.95m, before another 18.07m . All her efforts were good enough for the gold as Quiñonez of Ecuador’s best for the silver was 17.90m.

Interestingly, Oji just last February completed her switch of allegiance from the United States of America to Nigeria.

She celebrated her 19th birthday at Team Nigeria’s training camp in Aberdeen on June 23 while preparing for the Commonwealth Games.

Oji’s best effort at Glasgow 2026 was 17.87m that earned her the silver medal. Now, she has stepped into the 18.00m mark even as a junior athlete, giving Nigeria the hope having a shot put star in the ranks of world’s best throwers .

In a chat with THISDAY at the Commonwealth Games, Oji, said that competing for Nigeria gives her joy. “If I don’t compete for Nigeria where else? I love the vibes, the atmosphere around the Nigerian camp and all around me here in Glasgow. I will go to the World U20 Championships to give my best,” Oji stressed in the interview at the Team Nigeria Maldron Hotel camp in the Scottish capital city.

Until Oji’s achievement early hours of Friday, Nigeria’s previous efforts at the U20 Championships were Esther Aghatise’s silver medal in the women’s long jump in 2002 and Chinecherem Nnamdi’s bronze medal in the men’s javelin event in 2021.

Elsewhere at the Championships, Team Nigeria continued its impressive showing in Eugene with a record-breaking performance in the mixed 4x100m relay, while Jecinta Lawrence, Faith Ezechukwu and Precious Opinion also secured progression in their respective events.

The mixed 4x100m quartet of Tejiri Godwin, Rosemary Nwankwo, Perfect Faye and Miracle Ezechukwu produced one of Nigeria’s standout performances so far, clocking 41.91 seconds to finish second in their heat and qualify for the final.

Nigeria entered the final exchange behind the leading teams, but Ezechukwu produced a sensational anchor leg, ghosting past Germany and almost catching the United States before the finish line.

Ezechukwu recorded a stunning 10.05-second anchor split as Nigeria crossed the line in 41.91 seconds, a Nigerian U20 record and the fastest U20 time ever recorded by an African team in the event.

The performance puts Nigeria firmly in the medal conversation heading into the final, with the quartet now looking to build on an impressive opening-round performance and challenge the world’s leading teams for a place on the podium.

There was further progress for Nigeria in the women’s 400m as Jecinta Lawrence and Faith Ezechukwu both advanced to the semifinals.

Lawrence battled all the way to the finish in her heat, clocking 53.97 seconds in a dead heat for third place with Eni Kuske, with both athletes credited with the same time.

Faith Ezechukwu followed with another composed performance, finishing third in her heat in 54.38 seconds to secure automatic qualification for the semifinals.

Nigeria also celebrated an impressive breakthrough in the men’s triple jump as Precious Opinion produced a new personal best of 16.02m in the qualification round.