Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has become the first Nigerian to win the men’s shot put gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, producing a championship-winning throw of 21.07m in Glasgow on Thursday.
The 33-year-old delivered the decisive effort on his penultimate attempt at Scotstoun Stadium, holding off defending champion Tom Walsh of New Zealand, who had led with an opening throw of 21.03m but could not respond as Enekwechi surged ahead.
England’s Scott Lincoln completed the podium with 20.99m to take bronze.
The victory marks a significant leap for Enekwechi, who won silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast before a disappointing fourth-place finish at Birmingham 2022. It also adds another major title to his growing medal collection.
Enekwechi’s gold extended Nigeria’s strong showing in the shot put circle on the day, with debutant Jessica Oji claiming silver in the women’s event just hours later — the first Nigerian woman to medal in the discipline at the Games since 2006.
The result pushed Nigeria’s overall medal haul at the 2026 Commonwealth Games to 15, comprising eight gold, five silver and two bronze.
