13-Year-Old Breaks Georgia Powerlifting Records
A 13-year-old competitor shattered state records at the Georgia Powerlifting State Championships, setting new benchmarks in youth strength sports. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Jessica Oji broke the African shot put record during an Ivy League meet in the U.S. These performances highlight the surge of young talent making headlines in strength sports.
Jessica Oji, an 18-year-old University of Pennsylvania freshman, set the new African shot put record with a massive 18.50m (60ft 8.50in) throw at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships. Her performance not only won the gold medal by more than two meters but also established a new all-time Ivy League record, earning her the title of Most Outstanding Field Performer. The record was part of a dramatic weekend in the sport; Oji's throw surpassed the 18.48m mark set just one day earlier by South Africa's Miné de Klerk. De Klerk's throw had briefly broken the long-standing Nigerian record held by Vivian Chukwuemeka, but Oji's performance decisively reclaimed the top spot for Nigeria. This was a historic moment for Oji in only her third competition representing Nigeria. She officially switched her allegiance from the United States to Nigeria in early February 2026 and had already set a new Nigerian U-20 record just weeks before shattering the senior continental mark. The Georgia powerlifter, competing in the teen 1 category (13-15 years old), established her dominance with a 150 kg (330 lbs) squat, 75 kg (165 lbs) bench press, and a 170 kg (375 lbs) deadlift. These lifts secured a total of 395 kg (870 lbs), breaking all four existing state records in her weight class. Her total lift is considered exceptionally high for the youth division, placing her among the top-ranked young lifters in the country. The performance automatically qualifies her for the USA Powerlifting Youth Nationals, where she will compete against other top-tier teenage athletes. Both Oji's track and field dominance and the new state powerlifting benchmarks highlight a surge in elite-level strength and performance from teenage athletes. Their record-setting achievements as under-20 competitors position them as formidable talents on the national and international stage for years to come.
