World Athletics Backs Nigeria’s Jessica Oji for Historic U20 Shot Put Gold
World Athletics has tipped Nigeria’s Jessica Oji as the favourite to win the women’s shot put title at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, where the teenager has the opportunity to become the first Nigerian to win a field event gold medal in the history of the competition.
Oji heads into the championships in outstanding form after claiming the silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a throw of 17.87m.
Earlier this year, the 19-year-old rewrote the African record with an indoor throw of 18.50m, making her the only athlete in the women’s shot put field to have surpassed the 18-metre mark.
In its event preview, World Athletics identified the Nigerian as the leading contender for the title, citing both her consistency and superior personal best over the rest of the field.
Ecuador’s Belsy Jennifer Quiñonez and Belgium’s Nafy Thiam are expected to provide Oji’s strongest challenge, with personal bests of 17.75m and 17.30m respectively.
Germany’s Emily Scherf, who set a lifetime best of 16.98m in June, and American Jaslene Massey, whose personal best of 16.88m earned her a second United States U20 title, are also considered medal contenders.
Should Oji deliver on her favourite’s tag, she would not only claim Nigeria’s first-ever women’s shot put gold at the World U20 Championships but also become the first Nigerian athlete to win a field event gold medal in the history of the global age-grade competition.
