Nigeria enjoyed another memorable day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as Ezekiel Nathaniel stormed to a historic gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles, while Udodi Onwuzurike powered to silver in the men’s 200m final. Their outstanding performances headlined Nigeria’s exploits on an action-packed Day 8 that also delivered history, records and dramatic finishes across athletics, cycling, judo, boxing and para sports.
Nathaniel lived up to his billing as the favourite by producing a commanding display in the men’s 400m hurdles. The Nigerian, who arrived in Glasgow as the third fastest athlete in the world this year, clocked 48.47 seconds to secure Nigeria’s ninth gold medal of the Games. He became the first Nigerian man to win Commonwealth Games gold in the event and the country’s first medal winner in the men’s 400m hurdles since Ajoke Odumosu’s success in New Delhi 16 years ago. England’s Jake Minshull claimed silver after breaking the 49-second mark, while Jamaica’s Assinie Wilson settled for bronze.
Onwuzurike also impressed with a brilliant run from lane eight to secure silver in the men’s 200m final. The Nigerian clocked a season’s best of 20.09 seconds but could not stop South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile, who broke the 20-second barrier with 19.96 seconds to win gold. Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor completed the podium with bronze.
Earlier in the day, Scotland celebrated another home success as Melanie Woods claimed gold in the re-run of the women’s T54 1500m. She also set a new Commonwealth best of 3:32.20 ahead of Noemi Alphonse and Eliza Ault-Connell.
Scotland also celebrated history in boxing after Caitlin Rainey became the nation’s first female Commonwealth Games medallist. Although she lost her semi-final to Kaci Rock, the 23-year-old secured a bronze medal and expressed pride at inspiring the next generation of Scottish female boxers.
Judo produced several historic moments as India’s Asmita Dey captured her country’s first ever Commonwealth Games title in the sport by defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach in the women’s 48kg final. Malta’s Katryna Esposito and Scotland’s Summer Shaw earned bronze medals.
India quickly doubled their success when Harsh Singh defeated Australia’s Joshua Katz by Waza-Ari to win the men’s 60kg title. England’s Charlie Ayre and Australia’s Pedro Carlos Antun Neto both collected bronze medals.
Canada’s Evelyn Beaton won the women’s 52kg gold after beating Cyprus’ Sofia Asvesta. England’s Tatum Keen and Cameroon’s Marie Celine Baba Matia secured the bronze medals.
Canada collected another judo title when Julien Frascadore defeated defending champion Georgios Balarjishvili of Cyprus with a golden score Yuko in the men’s 66kg final. England’s Michael Fryer and Cyprus’ Petros Christodoulides completed the podium.
England closed the day’s judo programme with gold through Acelya Toprak in the women’s 57kg division. She defeated India’s Yamini Mourya after an exhausting contest that lasted almost seven minutes. South Africa’s Donne Breytenbach and England’s Lele Nairne earned bronze medals.
Track cycling also delivered plenty of excitement. Wales’ Anna Morris defeated England’s Josie Knight to win the women’s 4000m individual pursuit, while Scotland’s Erin Boothman claimed bronze.
New Zealand’s Devon Briggs edged Scotland’s Finlay Graham to win the men’s C1-3 1000m time trial. Australia’s Gordon Allan finished second, with Graham taking bronze.
Australia’s Georgia Baker won the women’s 10km scratch race ahead of Wales’ Anna Morris and New Zealand’s Samantha Donnelly. However, officials later disqualified Morris for an infringement, promoting Donnelly to silver and Scotland’s Erin Boothman to bronze.
Australia swept the podium in the men’s 4000m individual pursuit as Oliver Bleddyn defeated compatriot Conor Leahy in the final, while James Moriarty won bronze.
Olympic champion Emma Finucane added another gold for Wales by beating England’s Sophie Capewell in the women’s sprint final. Fellow Welsh rider Rhian Edmunds secured bronze.
Malaysia’s Mohd Azizulhasni Awang thrilled fans by winning the men’s sprint title after producing a devastating final lap. Australia’s Leigh Hoffman finished second, while England’s Harry Ledingham-Horn claimed bronze.
Australia added another cycling gold when Blake Agnoletto won the men’s elimination race ahead of Scotland’s Mark Stewart and England’s Henry Hobbs.
Athletics continued to produce standout performances throughout the evening. Australia’s Isaac Beacroft claimed gold in the men’s 10,000m race walk after pulling away from Kenya’s Stephen Ndangiri Kihu in the closing stages. Canada’s Evan Dunfee won bronze.
England’s Georgia Hunter-Bell dominated the women’s 800m to secure gold ahead of Australia’s Sarah Billings, while Kenya’s Lilian Odira recovered late to claim bronze.
Grenada’s Lindon Victor completed an incredible hat-trick of Commonwealth decathlon titles after holding off Canada’s Damian Warner. India’s Tejaswin Shankar finished third.
Jamaica’s Sanique Walker captured the women’s 400m hurdles title in a lifetime best of 54.00 seconds. England’s Emily Newnham missed gold by just four hundredths of a second, while Canada’s Savannah Sutherland took bronze.
New Zealand’s Eliza McCartney upset Australia’s Nina Kennedy to win the women’s pole vault on countback after both athletes cleared 4.65 metres. Fellow New Zealander Imogen Ayris collected bronze.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage underlined his status as the world leader by throwing 89.75 metres to win the men’s javelin. India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra settled for silver, while compatriot Yash Vir Singh won bronze.
Wales’ Olivia Breen secured her second Commonwealth title in the women’s T38 long jump with a leap of 5.09 metres. Australia’s Layla Sharp claimed silver with an Oceania record, while Ayla Kowalczyk added another bronze for Australia.
The women’s 200m brought the curtain down on another memorable night as British Virgin Islands star Adaejah Hodge stormed to victory in 22.07 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago’s Shaniqua Bascombe won silver, while Jamaica’s Alana Reid claimed bronze.
Beyond the medal events, Tuvalu celebrated a landmark achievement after boxer Tarona Taafaki secured her nation’s first ever Commonwealth Games medal with bronze in the women’s 75kg division despite losing her semi-final.
Day 8 ended with memorable moments across Glasgow, but Nigeria’s historic achievements stood out. Nathaniel’s record breaking gold and Onwuzurike’s impressive sprint silver ensured the country finished another successful day with two major athletics medals to celebrate.
