Jessica Oji Wins Nigeria’s First World U20 Field Event Gold

Jessica Oji has made history for Team Nigeria, becoming the nation’s first-ever field-event gold medallist at the World U20 Athletics Championships. She claimed the women’s shot put title in Oregon with an outstanding throw of 18.08m.

Oji, who recently won Silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, produced an outstanding series of 18.05m, 18.08m, 17.95m, 18.07m, showing remarkable consistency to secure the historic victory.

Before Oji’s triumph, Nigeria had never won a field event title at the World U20 Athletics Championships. In fact, the nation had claimed only two field event medals in the competition’s history: Esther Aghatise’s silver medal in the women’s long jump in 2002 and Chinecherem Nnamdi’s bronze medal in the men’s javelin throw in 2021.

The victory marks another significant milestone in what has been an impressive season for the athlete.

Her landmark achievement now delivers a breakthrough moment for Nigerian athletics but also ends the country’s long wait for a field event champion at the World U20 Championships.