Breaking 30-year women’s 400m jinx thrills Onojuvwevwo

Nigeria's Ella Onojuvwevwo celebrated winning her country's first Commonwealth Games medal in the women's 400m since 1994, claiming bronze at the Glasgow 2026 Games on Saturday. The Nigerian quarter-miler, who posted a season's best time of 51.00 seconds, became the first Nigerian woman to medal in the event at the Games since Fatima Yusuf.

Jamaica's Dejanea Oakley won gold in 50.21 seconds, while Barbados' Sada Williams edged onojuvwevwo to silver by just 0.01 of a second, finishing in 50.99 seconds. The victory came as a significant achievement for Onojuvwevwo, given how long Nigeria had been without a medal in the event. "I am really happy. I got a lot of support from back home, from my parents, my coach, my teammates and everybody in Team Nigeria.

They believe in me, and I am thankful for everything," she expressed. Onojuvwevwo, who turned professional this year, remarked on the enjoyable aspect of running competitively for money, stating that she was having fun and going with the flow. She also noted the challenging conditions in the final, attributing her success to staying strong and relaxed, particularly on the back straight where the wind was strongest.

Onojuvwevwo emphasized that more competitions lie ahead in her season, with a potential spot at the World Championships remaining a possibility.