Chukwuebuka Enekwechi etched his name into the history books on Saturday night at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, becoming the first African man ever to throw beyond the 22-meter mark in the Shot Put.
The 31-year-old Nigerian delivered a monster throw of 22.10m, setting a new African Record (AR) and finishing third in a fiercely contested event that featured some of the best shot putters in the world.
The event was won by Joe Kovacs of the United States, who threw a World Leading distance of 22.48m, while Roger Steen produced a lifetime best of 22.11m on his fifth attempt to narrowly edge Enekwechi for second place by just one centimeter.
Enekwechi gave everything in his final attempt in hopes of reclaiming second, but he fell just short with a mark of 21.68m.
Despite missing out on a runner-up finish, Enekwechi’s third-place performance was nothing short of historic.
His 22.10m effort broke the long-standing African record and cemented his status as a trailblazer in the sport, not just in Nigeria but across the entire continent.
Nicknamed “Big Chuks”, the American-born athlete has been a steady force on the international scene since 2017.
From Commonwealth Games silver to African Championship titles and World Championship finals, Enekwechi has been gradually pushing the boundaries for Nigerian and African athletics in a discipline long dominated by athletes from North America and Europe.
Speaking after the competition, Enekwechi expressed pride in his performance.
“I’ve been chasing this moment for years. To finally break 22 meters and make history for Africa—it means the world to me. I know there’s still more in the tank, and this is just the beginning,” he said.
His groundbreaking throw not only shattered the continental ceiling but also sent a strong message ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championship, where he is expected to be a major medal contender.
For Nigerian athletics, Enekwechi’s record marks another high point in what has been an impressive season across track and field events.
