Nigeria’s remarkable run at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games reached another high point on Thursday as Chukwuebuka Enekwechi powered to gold in the men’s shot put, delivering Team Nigeria’s eighth gold medal of the Games.
Enekwechi produced a winning throw of 21.07m in a pulsating final to edge New Zealand’s Tom Walsh, who settled for silver with 21.03m, while England’s Scott Lincoln claimed bronze with 20.99m.
It was a contest decided by the finest of margins, with just four centimetres separating the top two athletes.
South Africa’s Aiden Smith (20.31m) finished fourth, while India’s Tajinderpal Singh Toor (20.27m) and New Zealand’s Nick Palmer (20.27m) rounded out the top six.
For Enekwechi, the victory represents the crowning moment of a career built on consistency and resilience.
The Nigerian record holder has spent years competing among the world’s elite, winning African titles, reaching Olympic and World Championship finals, and becoming the first Nigerian to throw beyond the 22-metre mark.
Now, he has added the one title that had previously eluded him—a Commonwealth Games gold medal.
His triumph continues Nigeria’s dominance in the throwing events in Glasgow.
Earlier in the Games, Jessica Oji announced herself on the international stage with a historic silver medal in the women’s shot put, while Goodness Nwachukwu shattered the world record to win para athletics gold.
Enekwechi’s success also strengthens Team Nigeria’s position on the medals table, taking the country’s tally to 15 medals—8 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze—with several athletics finals still to come.
The victory is another major statement from Team Nigeria, whose athletes have excelled across para powerlifting, weightlifting, athletics and para athletics throughout the Games.
For Enekwechi, however, Glasgow will forever be remembered as the place where years of hard work finally culminated in Commonwealth glory.
After years of chasing the biggest titles, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi is finally a Commonwealth Games champion—and he has handed Nigeria its eighth gold medal in unforgettable fashion.
