Ruth Usoro claimed silver in the women’s long jump at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Saturday, producing a season’s best leap of 6.87m (+2.7) with her opening attempt to secure a place on the podium.
The Nigerian set the early pace with her first-round jump and remained in medal contention throughout the competition. Although she fouled on her next two attempts, her opening mark proved enough to clinch second place.
England’s Jazmin Sawyers successfully defended her Commonwealth title with a winning leap of 6.93m, while Australia’s Brooke Buschkuehl claimed bronze with 6.80m.
The silver medal represents a significant improvement for Usoro, who finished sixth at the previous Commonwealth Games.
Born in Akwa Ibom State and raised in Lagos, the 28-year-old first rose to prominence in the United States, where she became one of the most decorated athletes in NCAA history while representing Texas Tech University. During her collegiate career, she captured multiple national titles in both the long jump and triple jump.
Usoro has continued to break new ground for Nigerian athletics. In 2021, she became the first Nigerian athlete male or female to qualify for both the long jump and triple jump at the Olympic Games. A year later, she and Ese Brume made history as the first Nigerian pair to reach the women’s long jump final at the World Athletics Championships.
She has since represented Nigeria at the World Athletics Championships, African Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games. At Paris 2024, she finished 10th in the women’s long jump and is also the reigning African Games champion in the triple jump.
Her silver medal in Glasgow, achieved with a season’s best performance, adds another major honour to a career that has steadily established her as one of Africa’s leading field athletes.
