Nigeria: Folashade Oluwafemiayo sets new world record in para-powerlifting at 2024 Paralympic Games

Nigeria’s para-powerlifting champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo has made history by setting a new world record at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. The three-time world champion achieved an impressive lift of 167kg in the over 86kg category, becoming the first female para-athlete to reach this milestone.

Oluwafemiayo’s journey to success has been marked by unwavering dedication and focus. Despite challenges, including illness and pain, she remains committed to her training. “I just keep on training. Even when I’m sick, I still go for training,” she shared with BBC Sport Africa. “I never allow anything to distract me… I don’t want anything that will depress me from achieving my goal.”

After winning gold in the under 86kg weight class at the Tokyo 2020 Games, Oluwafemiayo initially felt nervous in Paris due to the enthusiastic crowd. “My first lift, I was shivering somehow, but coming out for the second one, that confidence just came,” she reflected. Her faith in her abilities was rewarded when she not only broke her previous world record of 165kg but also surpassed her compatriot Josephine Orji’s Paralympic record of 160kg.

The 39-year-old expressed her joy at making history, saying, “As a first female to set a record of 167kg, I feel very happy. Achieving the gold medal and the world record, I feel great because it has been my dream. This is what I want, and I went for it.”

Oluwafemiayo’s achievements in powerlifting began in 1999, and her career has flourished since winning silver at the London 2012 Paralympics. She boasts an impressive collection of titles, including a Commonwealth Games gold medal and multiple world and Paralympic championships, making her a beacon of inspiration in the sport.

Chiemeka Charles Ezenwanne, president of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation, praised Oluwafemiayo as an “outstanding” and “dedicated” athlete, adding, “That victory is for the whole of Africa and Nigeria. I am grateful to God for her strength.”

Nigeria’s female powerlifters shone at the Paralympic Games, with the team winning four medals. Onyinyechi Mark made her mark by setting a new world record of 150kg in the 61kg category, while Esther Nworgu secured a silver medal in the 41kg class, overcoming injury concerns.

Oluwafemiayo expressed her pride as captain of the team, celebrating the successes of her teammates. “I’m very happy for Esther, Gift (Mark Onyinyechi), and Bose Omolayo, because she won silver too. So, I give God glory on behalf of them.”

Oluwafemiayo’s achievements are part of a broader trend of success for African athletes at the Paralympics. While Nigeria finished second in the para-powerlifting medal standings, Egypt also excelled with a strong performance, showcasing the potential of African nations in the sport.

“I feel very great for Africa, and I pray for more of it,” Oluwafemiayo remarked. “I want medals to come from other African countries.” Her optimism highlights the importance of unity in sports and the hope for future African athletes to shine on the global stage.

Despite the success, Oluwafemiayo emphasized the need for better funding and facilities for Nigerian para-athletes. “When we have good equipment to train, we have improvement,” she noted. Her call for support from administrators and private companies is a step towards creating a stronger foundation for the next generation of athletes.

As the African Paralympic Committee designates September 3 as the African Day of Disability Sport, Nworgu hopes this initiative will inspire others to see the potential in themselves. “Sport is everything; it builds you mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically,” she said. “When you believe you can do it, you see yourself doing it.”

Oluwafemiayo’s inspiring story serves as a reminder of the resilience and talent present in African sports, and her accomplishments will undoubtedly motivate future generations of athletes.