Commonwealth Games | Glasgow 2026

In 2019, Funmi Oduwaiye – then just 16 - was on the brink of an American college scholarship and becoming a pro basketball player.

But that all changed when routine surgery to correct knock knees went drastically wrong. And while she admits that her life fell apart, disability sport has since opened a new door – and it’s one she has seized.

Taking up discus and shot, the 6ft tall Cardiff-born thrower has made incredible progress since taking up the sport in 2022.

Just two years on from taking her first steps in the throwing circle, she made her Paralympic debut at Paris 2024.

She has represented Great Britain in two World Championships, winning bronze in India in 2025. For the last three years, she has featured in the world’s top four in the shot put.

She now trains at the University of Bristol on a performance scholarship and is aiming to compete at the European Championships and, of course, the Commonwealth Games this summer:

“It would mean representing a specific part of my nationality, my journey, and all the work behind the scenes. It’s not just about competing, it’s about showing what’s possible and making every moment count.”

Random fact: she has six middle names.

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