Team Nigeria’s Jessica Oji has made history as the country’s first-ever field-event gold medallist at the World U20 Athletics Championships after winning the women’s shot put title in Oregon.
Gatekeepers News reports that Oji secured the historic victory with a best throw of 18.08 metres, producing an impressive and consistent series that also included efforts of 18.05m, 17.95m and 18.07m.
The triumph marks a breakthrough for Nigerian athletics, as the country had never previously won a field-event title at the World U20 Championships.
Before Oji’s victory, Nigeria had won only two field-event medals in the history of the competition.
Esther Aghatise claimed silver in the women’s long jump in 2002, while Chinecherem Nnamdi won bronze in the men’s javelin throw in 2021.
Oji’s latest achievement adds to an impressive season for the athlete, who recently won silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Her historic shot-put victory not only adds another major international title to her growing résumé but also ends Nigeria’s long wait for a field-event champion at the World U20 Athletics Championships.
