CWG: Adeshina Ends Nigeria’s 72-Year Wait for High Jump Medal

Temitope Adeshina has ended Nigeria’s 72-year wait for a Commonwealth Games medal in the high jump after winning bronze in the women’s event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The achievement marks one of Team Nigeria’s standout performances at the Games and makes Adeshina the first Nigerian woman to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the high jump.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) disclosed the feat in a statement issued on Wednesday by Kola Daniel, Special Adviser on Media to the Director-General of the commission, Bukola Olopade.

Adeshina secured third place after clearing 1.90 metres, finishing behind Australia’s Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers, who claimed the gold and silver medals respectively.

According to the NSC, the bronze medal ended a 72-year drought dating back to 1954 when Emmanuel Ifeajuna won Nigeria’s only previous Commonwealth Games high jump medal by claiming gold at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.

Daniel described Adeshina’s achievement as a landmark moment in Nigerian athletics, noting that she had written a new chapter in the country’s sporting history.

“This achievement makes her the first Nigerian woman ever to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the high jump,” he said.

The medal also represents a remarkable turnaround for Adeshina, who finished 10th on her Commonwealth Games debut four years ago.

Returning to the competition with greater experience and confidence, the Nigerian athlete displayed consistency and composure throughout the event to earn a place on the podium against a highly competitive field.

Her performance has been widely praised as evidence of her steady development into one of Africa’s leading high jumpers.

Before Adeshina’s success in Glasgow, only two Nigerians had won Commonwealth Games medals in the high jump, with Ifeajuna’s historic gold remaining the country’s most notable achievement in the event.

The latest medal further boosts Team Nigeria’s athletics campaign at the Glasgow Games as the country continues its quest for more podium finishes across track and field events.

Sports officials believe Adeshina’s breakthrough will inspire a new generation of Nigerian athletes, particularly female jumpers, to pursue excellence on the international stage.

With several athletics events still to be concluded, Team Nigeria remains hopeful of adding to its medal tally before the Games come to an end.