Enekwechi wins shot put in Bhubaneswar and reflects on Glasgow Commonwealth gold
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi won the shot put at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, securing first place with a throw of 20.78m, the result reported on September 1, 2026. He also recalled becoming the first Nigerian shot putter to win Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow, where he recorded 21.07m to edge New Zealand’s Tom Walsh.
Enekwechi, who hails from Anambra State and is 33 years old, described a long path that included living in the United States to pursue both his studies and his throwing career. He said he spent years in the US to train and study, and that his Glasgow victory was a national first: the Commonwealth Games gold was the first for a Nigerian in shot put and followed a silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
On the significance of that Glasgow gold he said, "It was amazing, especially at that moment. My life hasn’t changed much, but it was a piece of history. It was a huge honour. Many people tried before me and came close. For me to be the first person in history, it’s something that nobody can take away from me. And I made a lot of people proud and happy. That means the world to me."
Looking back at his recent championship record, he noted the gap since 2018 and the disappointment of finishing fourth in Birmingham in 2022, adding that the pressure increased ahead of Glasgow. He said he stayed consistent and worked hard in preparation, and acknowledged some luck in achieving that win, saying he was "very grateful."
At the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar he lived up to expectations by winning with 20.78m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting. The Bhubaneswar result followed his Glasgow performance and served as his latest international podium showing.
On resources and training he was candid: "Funding... it’s not there." He explained he trains in Lafayette, Indiana, where he moved to attend Purdue University and then remained; "I’m 10 years out of school, so I’ve been there for 15 years now." He also pointed to infrastructure limits and uneven attention and funding between sprint events and the throws, and said investment in coaching and facilities would help Nigerian throwers.
Addressing younger athletes, he urged them to back themselves and used his own physique as an example: "Give yourself a chance because when you look at me, I’m not the biggest thrower. I’m probably the shortest guy in the field: I’m 180 centimetres tall. And if you looked at me, especially before I put on a lot of muscle, you would not have thought of me as world-class or as a 22-metre shot putter. But I took a chance on myself and I was able to execute it. What it means is that many more kids can do what I did or even better." He said he returns to Nigeria once or twice every year "for the National championships, for the sports festival" and uses those visits to coach local talent and advise coaches.
He named throwers he had looked up to, including Joe Kovacs, Reese Hoffa, Ryan Whiting and Adam Nelson, and said he has developed relationships with contemporaries such as Tom Walsh. In India, he met Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Samardeep Gill, described the visit as his first time in the country and said he enjoyed the music, dignitaries, art styles and food during an immersive stay.
On his plans he expressed clear competitive aims: "I would love to get another major medal and improve my personal best." He added, "I just want to keep improving. Before I start to decline, I just want to be consistent at a high level," and said, "I want to keep making finals and compete for a medal at major championships. That would be awesome."
