BY ROSEMARY UGIOMOH
Nigerian shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi made history on Saturday by becoming the first African to throw over 22 meters in the men’s shot put event. At the Eugene Diamond League, Enekwechi achieved this remarkable feat with a throw of 22.10 meters on his second attempt, shattering the long-standing African record of 21.97 meters. This impressive throw not only marked a new African record but also surpassed his previous personal best of 21.91 meters, which he set at the same event last year.Enekwechi’s historic throw earned him third place at the Eugene Diamond League, with American athlete Joe Kovacs claiming top honors with a world-leading mark of 22.48 meters. Roger Steen of the United States narrowly edged out Enekwechi for second place, achieving a personal best of 22.11 meters on his fifth attempt. Despite attempting to better his mark with his final throw, Enekwechi ended with a distance of 21.68 meters .
*Enekwechi’s Journey to Success
– Early Career: Enekwechi has been steadily making a name for himself in the shot put world since 2017.
– Recent Achievements: He finished fifth in shot put at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships with a season’s best throw of 21.25 meters.
– Record-Breaking Throw: Enekwechi’s 22.10-meter throw is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport
Enekwechi’s achievement is a milestone moment for Nigerian athletics, and his record-breaking throw has put him among the elite in global shot put history.
