A Grief-Driven Performance
For Nigerian quarter-miler Edidiong Udo, every race carries a deeper meaning. After advancing in the men's 400m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Tuesday, the Ohio State athlete reflected on the two people he wished could have witnessed one of the biggest moments of his career: his late parents.
"My parents are my biggest motivation. It would have been a nice thing if they witnessed it," Udo told PREMIUM TIMES in Glasgow after his race. "I use that as motivation to make them proud wherever they are. Life happens and you just have to find a way to move on."
Tuesday's emotional remarks come more than a year after Udo endured one of the darkest periods of his life. According to a February 2025 report by EssentiallySports, the Nigerian lost both parents within six days while pursuing his athletics career in the United States.
From Tragedy to Triumph
The tragedy struck just as Udo had begun making headlines on the collegiate circuit. He had opened his season with a brilliant 45.61 seconds at the Stan Scott Invitational, climbing to fourth on Nigeria's all-time indoor 400m list. Unable to immediately return home due to financial and logistical constraints, Udo found himself grieving thousands of miles away from his family.
His situation drew widespread sympathy across the athletics community. His Ohio State teammates launched a GoFundMe campaign to help him travel to Nigeria and support his family during the difficult period. World Athletics Hub also amplified the appeal on social media. As the eldest of three children, Udo also bore the responsibility of organizing and funding his parents' burial while coping with the demands of his first year as an international student-athlete.
Despite the devastating loss, the Nigerian has rebuilt his career with remarkable resilience. His appearance at the Commonwealth Games represents a major milestone.
The Right Event Switch
Udo believes switching from the 800m to the 400m transformed his career. "First of all, I give God all the glory. This is very important to me because it's a dream come true," he said. "It's something I've been looking forward to for a long time. I tried a couple of times to make Team Nigeria, but it didn't happen. I realised I was competing in the wrong event, so I decided to step down to the 400m, and everything just started falling into place."
Before tragedy interrupted his freshman season, Udo had already announced himself as one of Ohio State's brightest prospects. He won the men's 600m at the Rod McCravy Memorial in a meet-record 1:16.77, producing one of the fastest performances in the programme's history and earning Big Ten Men's Freshman of the Week honours.
Now back on the track, he believes there is still plenty of room for improvement. "All this while, I kept telling myself I was a 800m runner. This year, I had to convince myself that wasn't really my event," he said. "When I return to the U.S., I'll focus on building my endurance and getting enough rest. I know I'm strong. I know I can run faster. I just have to learn how to execute my race properly."
Inspired by Legends
Udo is also encouraged by the resurgence of Nigerian quarter-milers, with several athletes producing world-class performances in recent seasons. "I'm super excited because, when we were growing up, we watched legends like Innocent Egbunike and Enefiok Udo-Obong flying Nigeria's flag and making the country one of the best in the world in the 400m," he said.
"At some point, it felt like we had fallen behind, but this new generation of athletes knows what it takes. We are capable of competing with the very best." As he continues his rise in the sport, Udo says the memory of his parents remains the driving force behind every race. His journey from personal tragedy to Commonwealth Games semi-finals is a testament to his resilience and determination.
