Jami Schlueter targets Commonwealth gold after choosing Nigeria over Great Britain
Nigeria’s national decathlon record holder, Jami Schlueter, says his decision to switch allegiance from Great Britain to Nigeria was inspired by his desire to contribute to the country’s rising profile in international athletics.
Speaking in Glasgow ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Schlueter expressed his determination to crown his debut campaign with a gold medal and help Team Nigeria continue its recent success on the global stage.
The versatile athlete has been in outstanding form this year, rewriting Nigeria’s decathlon record with 7,861 points at the 2026 Mt. SAC Relays, eclipsing the previous national mark of 7,752 points set by Peter Moreno in 2017.
He went a step further in June by becoming the first Nigerian to surpass the 8,000-point milestone, recording 8,024 points at a meet in Dallas, Texas.
Schlueter revealed that although he represented England at junior level, choosing Nigeria was a decision rooted in identity and purpose.
“I competed for England as a junior athlete coming through the ranks. So, I’m German, Nigerian and British,” he said.
The 26-year-old stressed that wearing Nigeria’s colours is about honour rather than personal benefits.
“A lot of people make sports transactional, but really competing for your country is a privilege. So, for me, representing Nigeria is a privilege,” Schlueter said.
He added that he is motivated by the opportunity to be part of a generation reshaping Nigerian athletics.
“I want to be part of a team that’s making history, and there are guys around me who are constantly doing that every day.
“And so I want to be part of something great and be great myself.”
As competition gets underway in Glasgow, Schlueter will be aiming to convert his record-breaking form into a medal-winning performance and strengthen Team Nigeria’s push for success at the Commonwealth Games.
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