Nigeria’s national decathlon record holder, Jami Schlueter, has explained that his decision to switch allegiance from Great Britain to Nigeria was inspired by a desire to be part of the country’s rising athletics success and contribute to its growing legacy on the global stage.
The multi-event athlete, who is competing for Team Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, said he is motivated by the opportunity to represent Nigeria and hopes to reward the country’s faith in him by winning a gold medal at the competition.
Schlueter has enjoyed a standout year, setting a new Nigerian decathlon record of 7,861 points at the 2026 Mt. SAC Relays, surpassing Peter Moreno’s previous mark of 7,825 points set in 2017. He later became the first Nigerian athlete to cross the 8,000-point mark in the event after posting 8,024 points in Dallas, Texas, in June 2026.
Explaining his decision to represent Nigeria, Schlueter revealed that he had previously competed for England at junior level. “I competed for England as a junior athlete coming through the ranks. So, I’m German, Nigerian, British,” he said.
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The decathlete emphasized that his switch was not motivated by personal benefits but by the honour of representing a nation he feels connected to.
“A lot of people make sports transactional, but really competing for your country is a privilege. So, for me representing Nigeria is a privilege,” Schlueter said.
He added that he wants to be part of a generation that creates history for Nigerian athletics while also chasing his own ambitions.
“I want to be part of a team that’s making history and there are guys around me who are constantly doing that every day. “And so I want to be part of something great and be great myself,” he added.
As the Commonwealth Games continues in Glasgow, Schlueter will be aiming to turn his record-breaking form into a podium finish while helping Team Nigeria make a strong impact at the event.
The Eagle Online
