Jessica Oji Makes History as Nigeria’s First World U20 Field Event Champion
By Abubakar Mohammed Jibo
Nigeria’s Jessica Oji has made history at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon, becoming the country’s first athlete to win a world title in a field event at any level.
Oji achieved the feat by winning the women’s shot put gold medal with an impressive throw of 18.08 metres, marking a landmark moment for Nigerian athletics.
According to Making of Champions in a post on X, Oji’s triumph represents the first time a Nigerian athlete has won a world championship title in a field event, either at the junior or senior level.
The young thrower described the achievement as the culmination of an emotional and demanding season, saying her confidence grew significantly after she won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.
“It’s been an emotional roller coaster coming into my first international competition and getting the silver medal at the Commonwealth. I was already gobsmacked… So coming into U20s, I have high goals for this meet. I’ve been looking forward to this all year,” Oji said.
Despite admitting that she was not at her physical best after a demanding season, the Nigerian athlete said she was delighted to end her campaign with a world title.
Oji explained that navigating the pressure of competing throughout the year had also helped strengthen her confidence as she prepares to begin her collegiate career.
The new world champion also acknowledged the support she received from fellow Nigerian throwers Obiageri Amaechi and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, whom she affectionately described as her “auntie” and “uncle.”
She credited the duo with providing encouragement and support throughout her journey to the biggest achievement of her young career.
Oji’s historic victory further highlights her emergence as one of Nigeria’s promising athletics talents and provides a significant boost to the country’s field events on the international stage.
