Chukwuebuka Enekwachi, a Nigerian athlete based in the United States, has achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new African record in shot put with a remarkable throw of 21.63 meters during an Olympic qualifier event held in the Czech Republic.
Solomon Ogba, the 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), announced this groundbreaking achievement in a statement released on Friday. Ogba, a former president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), also highlighted that Enekwachi’s performance secured him a spot in the upcoming Olympics.
“Enekwachi has just achieved a significant indoor Personal Best (PB) of 21.63m in the men’s shot put at the Hvezdy v. Nehvizdech event in the Czech Republic,” Ogba stated. “He not only surpassed the previous indoor African record of 21.47m set in 2001 by Janus Roberts of South Africa but also demonstrated exceptional consistency with each attempt, exceeding 21 meters.”
Born on January 28, 1993, Enekwachi, a Nigerian-American track and field athlete, specializes in throwing events and competes internationally for Nigeria. Ogba noted that Enekwachi, who clinched the silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, currently holds the title of African champion in shot put and boasts an impressive record as the reigning Nigerian National Sports Festival Champion.
In addition to Enekwachi’s outstanding performance, Ogba also highlighted another Nigerian athlete, Ruth Usoro, who showcased her prowess by leaping 6.87 meters in the jumps category during the same Olympic qualifier event, thereby positioning herself for potential participation in the Paris 2024 Games.