There aren’t many times one gets to see an athlete break a World Record (WR) on her first attempt in a field event, competing in front of a sold-out stadium at a major championship like the Commonwealth Games, unless you are maybe Goodness Nwachukwu.
The Nigerian Para-athlete did put on a show for the spectators at the Alexander stadium in Birmingham, breaking not just one, but two WRs in quick succession to dominate her event at the Games.
Nwachukwu clinched the GOLD medal for Nigeria in women’s Discus F42-44/61-64 event, putting down a commanding performance that set her apart from the rest of the field.
It was almost like a scripted show, when Nwachukwu opened up with a World Record of 34.84m, and then bettered that mark, setting a new WR of 36.86m which set her on course for the GOLD medal after just two attempts.
Those throws really got the spectators pumped, and they were rooting for the Nigerian to have a go at yet another Record each time she stepped into the arc.
Nwachukwu was the only Nigerian athlete in action during the evening session of Athletics Day 3 at the Commonwealth Games, and while many Nigerians might not have been in the stadium to cheer and watch her compete, many people back home in Nigeria watched her on TV.
Earlier in the day in women’s 200m, Favour Ofili showed why she is a strong favourite for a medal, posting the fastest time overall to win her heat in 22.71s. Nigeria had three athletes qualifying for the semis of men’s 200m, with the trio of: Ifeanyi Ojeli, Udodi Onwuzuruike and Alaba Akintola all going through.
