Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Cornnell Enekwechi has set a new African record in men’s shot put with a 21.80m personal best at Hvezdy vs. Nehvizdech International Athletics Meeting in the Czech Republic.
The feat earned the 31-year-old a slot at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, his second successive qualification for the quadrennial sports fiesta after Tokyo 2020.
After winning the event, the muscular Chuks shared his excitement in an Instagram post with several pictures of the triumphant outing, including the two above.
“Some cool shots from the Hvezdy vs. Nehvizdech Fun meet, where I threw a PB and got to qualify for my second Olympic Games! Good meeting with some good people,” writes the Nigerian-American track and field star.
Enekwechi is the 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medalist and reigning African champion in the shot put. He is also the 2019 African Games Champion and the reigning Nigerian National Sports Festival Champion.
A plethora of athletes from all five continents were on display at Hvezdy vs. Nehvizdech. Canada’s representative Sarah Mitton took care of the biggest shot with her shot put, overcoming 20 meters, thereby setting not only a meeting record, but also a record for her country. Breaking the 20 meter mark is a big deal in the women’s category.
Fellow shot putter Tom Walsh added another great performance, as the fighter from New Zealand, who already has three world titles set meeting record, which already has an incredible number of 21.96 m.
The biggest reward for everyone was seeing a high jump over the magical 230 cm mark – that was almost done by the home representative from Korea, Sanghyeok Woo because the current world champion trains regularly.