Nigerian long jumper Ruth Usoro has described her silver medal-winning performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games as nothing short of a miracle after overcoming a challenging build-up to reach the podium in Glasgow.
Usoro secured the silver medal in the women’s long jump with a season’s best leap of 6.87m on her opening attempt, delivering one of Team Nigeria’s standout performances at the Games.
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Her achievement came after she stepped up following the injury withdrawal of defending champion Ese Brume, who was initially expected to lead Nigeria’s challenge in the event.
Reflecting on her achievement, the Nigerian star expressed gratitude to God for helping her overcome the obstacles she faced in the weeks leading up to the Games.
“I’m grateful to God for how far I’ve come. Considering everything I’ve gone through and the hard work I’ve put in to get here, I can only describe this as a miracle,” Usoro said.
The Commonwealth silver medallist admitted that just six weeks before the competition, she was uncertain about how the season would unfold, making her podium finish even more special.
“If someone had told me six weeks ago that I’d be standing on the podium at the Commonwealth Games, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. That’s why this medal means so much to me,” she added.
Usoro also paid tribute to Ese Brume, describing the African record holder and Olympic medallist as a constant source of inspiration throughout her career.
“Ese Brume has always been a huge inspiration to me. Watching everything she has achieved motivates me to keep working hard and believing in myself,” she said.
The silver medal marked another significant milestone in Usoro’s career and contributed to Team Nigeria’s impressive athletics campaign in Glasgow, reinforcing her status as one of the country’s leading field event athletes.
With renewed confidence after her breakthrough performance, Usoro says she is determined to build on her Commonwealth success as she sets her sights on future global championships and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
