Reigning Commonwealth discus champion and African record holder seeks approval to compete in both athletics and Olympic weightlifting at Glasgow 2026.

Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons, the reigning Commonwealth Games discus champion, has revealed she is exploring the possibility of competing in both athletics and Olympic weightlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

If approved, the move would mark an unprecedented dual-sport appearance at the Games.

Onyekwere-Lyons, who also holds the African record in the discus, confirmed that her recent transition into Olympic weightlifting is driven by a desire to make history, subject to meeting qualification standards and receiving approval from Nigerian sporting authorities.

Speaking about her ambition, the 31-year-old said she hopes to contest two disciplines at the Commonwealth Games, pending clearance from Nigeria.

“I am trying to see if Nigeria will let me do a dual sport at the Commonwealth Games. It has never been done before. I would be making history,” she said.

Born in the United States, Onyekwere-Lyons represents Nigeria internationally and remains one of the country’s most decorated field athletes.

She is the defending Commonwealth discus champion, having claimed gold at the Birmingham 2022 Games. She is also a three-time African champion, winning continental titles in 2018 and 2022, as well as gold at the 2019 African Games.

In January, she officially transitioned into weightlifting and made her competitive debut at a sanctioned Olympic weightlifting meet, lifting 75kg in the snatch and 106kg in the clean and jerk.

Reflecting on the experience, Onyekwere-Lyons described the competition as demanding but rewarding, adding that it deepened her respect for athletes in the sport after competing alongside them.