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Jessica Oji

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jessica Oji
Personal information
NationalityNigeria
CitizenshipNigerian
Born (2007-06-23) 23 June 2007 (age 19)
USA
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania
OccupationsShotput
Discus throw
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Nigeria
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place2026 GlasgowShot put
World U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place2026 EugeneShotput

Jessica Oji (born 23 June 2007) is a Nigerian-American women's shot put and discus throw athlete.[1] In February 2026, World Athletics confirmed that she had switched her allegiance to Nigeria.[2]

Oji first broke the Ivy League record in December 2025 with a mark of 17.72 m (58 ft 1.75 in), before going on to break it four more times at the Penn Elite Meet in a mark of 18.45m (60' 6.5").[3][4] She currently has a personal best of 18.50 m, which she used to clinch the conference title.[5]

Early life and education

[edit]

Oji was born in Accra, Ghana and raised in the United States. She is currently a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania.[6][7]

Career

[edit]

She made her debut for Nigeria in 2026 and broke the long-standing African record of 18.43 m set by former Nigerian thrower Vivian Chukwuemeka in 2003.[8] The record placed her second in the NCAA rankings[9] and also above Mine de Klerk African mark of 18.48m set just a day earlier.[10][11] In the current world rankings, Oji is ranked No. 30 in women's shot put.[1] Officially, the mark did not count as an African or Nigerian record, as it was achieved before her transfer of allegiance.[12][13] Oji also holds the national under-20 record in the discus throw, setting a mark of 55.12 m in May 2026.[14]

In 2025,[15] Oji was crowned the USA U-20 Champion and placed sixth in the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in the shot put.[12] Representing Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, she won a silver medal on her debut, becoming the first Nigerian woman to win a medal in the event since Vivian Chukwuemeka at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.[16][17] At the 2026 World U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, she claimed gold, ending Nigeria's 24-year wait for a medal in a women's field event.[18][19]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Jessica OJI | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  2. ↑ "World Athletics Confirms Jessica Orji's Switch from USA to Nigeria Amid Athlete Exodus - Sportsnow.com.ng". 2026-02-13. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  3. ↑ "Oji Turns Penn Elite Into Record-Breaking Showcase". University of Pennsylvania Athletics. 2026-01-24. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  4. ↑ PositiveNaija (2026-03-22). "Jessica Oji Sets New Nigerian And African Record In Women's Shot Put Event At 2026 Ivy League Conference Championships". PositiveNaija. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  5. ↑ Ogunbayo, Abiodun (2026-03-02). "Jessica Oji Smashes Nigerian & African Shot Put Record at Ivy League Championships". Sports247 Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  6. ↑ THEWILL, Jude Obafemi (2026-03-02). "Oji, 18, Resets African Shot Put Record". The Will. Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  7. ↑ "Jessica Oji - PA Track and Field Bio". Athletic.net. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  8. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2026-02-17). "U.S.-based Oji makes impressive Nigerian debut". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  9. ↑ Lambert, Jim (2025-02-23). "Jessica Oji Has Committed To The University of Pennsylvania". nj.milesplit.com. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  10. ↑ REFINEDNG (2026-02-17). "Oji Opens Nigerian Career with Podium Finish and U-20 Record". refinedng.com. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  11. ↑ "18-year-old Jessica Oji set new shot put record". Blueprint. Abuja, Nigeria. 2026-03-03. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  12. 1 2 "18-Year-Old Jessica Oji Breaks Nigerian U-20 Shot Put Record on International Debut". Dairly Observer / Trusted news from Nigeria and beyond. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  13. ↑ admin (2026-02-16). "Nigerian Athletes Shine at U.S. Collegiate Meets: Jessica Oji, Esther Joseph, and Prestina Ochonogor Lead Record-Breaking Weekend". Awijare News. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  14. ↑ "Jessica OJI | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  15. ↑ Abe, Olamide (2026-03-03). "Teen star Oji breaks African shot put record". The Punch. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  16. ↑ Bolarinwa, David (2026-07-29). "Jessica Oji Wins Silver On Nigeria Debut At Commonwealth Games". Trending News. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  17. ↑ BellaNaija.com (2026-07-30). "19-Year-Old Jessica Oji Wins Historic Commonwealth Shot Put Silver for Nigeria on Debut". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  18. ↑ Adewale, Abiodun (2026-08-07). "Oji reaches World U-20 shot put final". The Punch. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  19. ↑ Usman, Salifu (August 7, 2026). "Jessica Oji Strikes Gold, Ends Nigeria's 24-Year Wait At World U-20 Championships". Leadership. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
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