Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has described his historic Commonwealth Games gold medal as the reward for years of perseverance after becoming the first Nigerian to win the men’s shot-put title at the competition.
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Enekwechi delivered a championship-winning throw of 21.07 metres in Glasgow to secure the gold medal, ending Nigeria’s long wait for success in the men’s shot put at the Commonwealth Games.
Reacting after his landmark achievement, the African record holder expressed gratitude to God and reflected on the difficult journey that led to his breakthrough.
“First of all, I thank God for this victory. I’ve worked extremely hard for this moment, and there were times when I even doubted myself, but I never stopped believing,” Enekwechi said.
The triumph was particularly satisfying for the Nigerian star after narrowly missing out on the podium at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he finished fourth.
Enekwechi admitted that disappointment served as extra motivation, pushing him to improve and return stronger for Glasgow.
“This victory means so much because it wipes away the disappointment of Birmingham. It puts me in a very good place mentally and gives me confidence for what’s ahead,” he added.
The gold medal further cements Enekwechi’s status as one of Africa’s leading field athletes and provides another major milestone in a career that has seen him dominate the continent while consistently competing among the world’s elite throwers.
With the Commonwealth title now secured, the Nigerian says his focus will shift towards preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where he hopes to build on his latest success and challenge for an Olympic medal.
