Enekwechi produced a winning throw of 21.07 metres at Scotstoun Stadium, with his decisive effort coming on his fifth attempt.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian athlete Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has reacted to his historic feat in the Commonwealth Games men’s shot put event in Glasgow, after picking up gold, saying: ‘I never lost faith in myself.’
The 33-year-old field star made this known after becoming the first Nigerian to win a gold medal in the discipline at the Games.
Enekwechi produced a winning throw of 21.07 metres at Scotstoun Stadium, and his decisive effort came on his fifth attempt, moving him ahead of New Zealand’s Tom Walsh, who had earlier set the pace with a throw of 21.03 metres.
England’s Scott Lincoln settled for the bronze medal with a mark of 20.99 metres.
Reacting after the landmark achievement, the African record holder thanked God and described his Commonwealth Games triumph as a reward for years of persistence and belief.
ALSO READ: Nathaniel claims Nigeria’s 9th gold after winning Commonwealth Games’ men’s 400m hurdles
He expressed gratitude for the achievement and reflected on the challenges he overcame on his way to the title.
He further acknowledged that there were moments of doubt during his journey, but maintained confidence in his ability to succeed, describing the gold medal as the result of years of dedication and hard work.
Reflecting on the difficult journey, Enekwechi said: ‘First of all, I thank God for this victory. I have worked extremely hard for this moment, and there were times when I even doubted myself, but I never stopped believing.’
The Nigerian star further noted that the victory was especially meaningful because it erased the disappointment of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he narrowly missed out on a podium finish after placing fourth.
According to him, the Glasgow success has boosted his confidence and placed him in a stronger mental position for future competitions.
Enekwechi’s gold medal adds another milestone to an impressive career that already includes a silver medal from the 2018 Commonwealth Games and multiple African titles.
