Umoafia was certainly one to watch on Day 3 of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, and he didn't let us down when he took home the fourth gold of the Games for his home nation of Nigeria on July 27, 2026.

While the 23-year-old was leading the Commonwealth rankings, he had tough competition from Samoa’s John Lautafi Tafi. Umoafia upgraded his Birmingham 2022 bronze with a strong showing that began with him recording a 147kg lift in the snatch - setting a Commonwealth Games Record - followed by 172kg in the clean and jerk - amounting to a total of 319kg, another Commonwealth Games record set by the Nigerian.

Samoa’s John Lautafi Tafi chased Umoafia hard but his double failure at 178kg meant he could not overhaul the Nigerian. His silver was Samoa’s first medal at Glasgow 2026 - though with a clean & jerk of 172kg, he too set a Commonwealth Games record.

"Every day, every chance, every minute, I made sure I used my time well. I ate well, slept well and rested. I put all my focus into this moment, into this day. Working for four years for this moment has been a long journey.”
Edidiong Joseph Umoafia

“It was not easy for me, but I had to try my hardest after the last Commonwealth Games,” Umoafia said.

“After I won bronze in Birmingham I went back and trained hard, every day, every chance, every minute and I tried to use my time well. I used all my thinking for this moment, for this day.”