Nigeria’s Jessica Oji has etched her name into the country’s sporting history after becoming the first Nigerian athlete to claim a gold medal in a field event at the World Athletics U20 Championships, delivering a sensational winning throw of 18.08m in the women’s shot put final in Eugene, Oregon.

The 19-year-old opened her campaign in style, launching a powerful 18.05m in her first attempt to seize an early lead. She improved on that mark with her second throw, hitting the championship-winning distance of 18.08m, before following up with 17.95m and, after two fouls, a strong closing throw of 18.07m.

Her consistency throughout the final left no doubt about her dominance, as she remained the only athlete in the competition to clear the 18-metre mark. Ecuador’s Belsy Jenniffer Quiñónez settled for silver with 17.90m, while Germany’s Emily Scherf claimed bronze at 17.23m.

Oji had already signalled her readiness for gold during qualification, topping the standings with a throw of 17.56m to cruise into the final as the athlete to beat. Her triumph in Oregon ends a 24-year wait for Nigeria in a women’s field event at the championships and marks the country’s first-ever gold in any field event at the World U20 level, track or field. Nigeria’s only previous field event medals at the championships were Esther Aghatise’s long jump silver in 2002 and Chinecherem Nnamdi’s javelin bronze in 2021.

The gold caps a whirlwind year for the young thrower. Oji switched sporting allegiance from the United States to Nigeria in February, celebrated her 19th birthday in June, and won silver for Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow just a week before her Oregon triumph. Speaking to journalists in Glasgow ahead of the World U20 Championships, Oji had expressed pride in representing Nigeria, saying she loved the atmosphere around the Nigerian camp and was determined to give her best on the global stage.

Her performance also provided a timely boost for Team Nigeria’s campaign in Oregon, coming on a day the country also secured a spot in the 4x100m mixed relay final and saw Precious Opinion advance to the men’s triple jump final with a personal best leap.

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