Nigerian powerlifter, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, has made history at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France, winning a gold medal in the women’s over 86kg category.
The captain of Team Nigeria became the first para-powerlifter to lift 167kg at the Games, setting a new world record.
Oluwafemiayo’s remarkable performance saw her surpass competitors, with China’s Deng Xuemei taking the silver medal after lifting 155kg and Egypt’s Nadia Ali winning the bronze with a lift of 145kg.
Reacting to the victory, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, John Enoh, praised Oluwafemiayo’s exceptional achievement. “Folashade has demonstrated great skill, determination, and an excellent spirit,” Enoh wrote on his X handle on Sunday. “She achieved something no other woman has done in powerlifting at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.”
Enoh continued, “Folashade not only set a Paralympics record by lifting 167kg, but she also set an Elite World Record. Let’s come together to congratulate and celebrate our champion for bringing pride to herself and our great nation, Nigeria.”
Oluwafemiayo’s victory marks a significant milestone in her illustrious career. According to data from the International Paralympic Committee, she previously won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
The 39-year-old also boasts an impressive list of accomplishments, including gold medals at the World Championships in Mexico (2017), Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan (2019), Tbilisi, Georgia (2021), Dubai, United Arab Emirates (2023), and at the Women’s Bench Press Heavyweight event in Birmingham, England (2022).
Her latest triumph brings Team Nigeria’s medal count at the 2024 Paralympics to seven: two gold, three silver, and two bronze.
Among the other medalists, Bose Omolayo secured silver in the women’s up to 79kg para-powerlifting category with a lift of 145kg, while Flora Ugwunwa won silver in the Women’s Javelin F54 category with a throw of 19.26 meters.
In addition, Isau Ogunkunle made history by winning a bronze medal in the Men’s Singles Class 4 para table tennis event, becoming the first Nigerian to secure an individual medal in the sport since the Sydney 2000 Games
https://x.com/OwanEnoh/status/1832782551817003463?t=y4I2AXRefHrK4G8XQgyXuA&s=19
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