Onojuvwevwo ends 32-year wait, claims historic Commonwealth 400m bronze for Nigeria
Nigeria’s Ella Onojuvwevwo etched her name into the country’s athletics history books on Saturday after delivering a landmark performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, winning bronze in the women’s 400m.
The 21-year-old crossed the finish line in an impressive 51.00 seconds to secure third place, becoming the first Nigerian female athlete in 32 years to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the event.
Onojuvwevwo’s achievement marked Nigeria’s return to the women’s 400m podium since Fatima Yusuf claimed silver at the 1994 Commonwealth Games.
Jamaica’s Dejanea Oakley produced a dominant display to take the gold medal with a winning time of 50.21 seconds, while Barbados’ Sada Williams narrowly edged Onojuvwevwo to second place, clocking 50.99 seconds to claim silver.
Reflecting on her historic feat after the race, Onojuvwevwo expressed her joy at ending Nigeria’s long wait for a medal in the event, crediting the support she received from her team and loved ones.
“I’m really happy. I’ve had a lot of support from back home, from my parents, my coach, my teammates, from everybody in Team Nigeria,” she said.
“I’m really happy to win the bronze medal after a very, very long time. It’s really good.”
The young sprinter is already setting her sights on bigger challenges, adding that she hopes to continue her progress on the international stage.
“I still have more competitions and hopefully I’ll be at the Ultimate World Championships,” she added.
Onojuvwevwo’s historic podium finish further strengthened Team Nigeria’s impressive campaign in Glasgow, taking the nation’s medal haul to 20 across para powerlifting, weightlifting, and athletics.
Nigeria’s tally now stands at 10 gold, six silver, and four bronze medals, as the country continues to make a strong impact across various sporting events at the Commonwealth Games.
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