Jessica Oji wins shot put gold at World Athletics U20 Championships
Nigeria’s Jessica Oji has won gold in the women’s shot put at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon, United States. The 19-year-old produced a best throw of 18.08 metres to finish top of the final at Hayward Field in the early hours of Friday.
Oji’s victory comes just days after she claimed a silver medal for Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The Commonwealth Games marked her first international appearance for Nigeria since she switched allegiance from the United States in February.
Her triumph in Oregon also made history, as she became the first Nigerian to win a gold medal in a field event at the World Athletics U20 Championships. Oji entered the final as the favourite after qualifying with a single throw of about 17.56 metres. She lived up to expectations in the final, becoming the only competitor to surpass the 18-metre mark. She opened with 18.05m before improving to 18.08m on her second attempt.
The Nigerian followed that with a 17.95m throw before recording two fouls. She ended the competition strongly with an 18.07m effort on her final attempt. Ecuador’s Belsy Jenniffer Quiñonez won silver with 17.90m, while Germany’s Emily Scherf took bronze.
