Jessica Oji

Jessica Oji
Personal information
NationalityNigeria
CitizenshipNigerian
Born (2007-06-23) 23 June 2007 (age 19)
US
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. In February 2026, World Athletics confirmed that she had switched her allegiance to Nigeria.

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"). She currently has a personal best of 18.50 m, which she used to clinch the conference title.

Early life and education

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

Career

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. The record placed her second in the NCAA rankings and also above Mine de Klerk African mark of 18.48m set just a day earlier. In the current world rankings, Oji is ranked No. 30 in women's shot put. Officially, the mark did not count as an African or Nigerian record, as it was achieved before her transfer of allegiance. Oji also holds the national under-20 record in the discus throw, setting a mark of 55.12 m in May 2026.

In 2025, 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. 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. 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.

References

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