Nigeria’s national decathlon record holder, Jami Schlueter, has revealed that his decision to switch allegiance from Great Britain to Nigeria was driven by his desire to be part of the country’s growing athletics success.
Schlueter, who is in Glasgow for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, said he is determined to contribute to Team Nigeria’s campaign by winning the gold medal.
The multi-event athlete has enjoyed a remarkable year, setting a new Nigerian decathlon record of 7,861 points at the 2026 Mt. SAC Relays to surpass Peter Moreno’s previous mark set in 2017.
He later became the first Nigerian to break the 8,000-point barrier in the event after recording 8,024 points in Dallas, Texas, in June 2026.
Explaining his decision to represent Nigeria, Schlueter said he previously competed for England at junior level.
“I competed for England as a junior athlete coming to the ranks. So, I’m German, Nigerian, British,” he said.
The decathlete stressed that representing Nigeria is about pride rather than personal gain.
“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 added that he wants to be part of a generation making history for Nigerian athletics while pursuing 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.”
With the Commonwealth Games underway in Glasgow, Schlueter will be aiming to translate his record-breaking performances into a podium finish as he seeks to help Team Nigeria achieve success at the Games.
