August 30, (THEWILL) – Team Nigeria’s gold medal tally increased to three when Folashade Oluwafemiayo beat the competition in the women’s 86kg Powerlifting event at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan on Monday with a record-setting display.
The 36-year-old, who held the record in the event, broke that world record set in Manchester on March 28, 2021, with her second lift of 151kg. Not satisfied with that, she took the record even further to set the precedent for others.
By also lifting 152kg, Oluwafemiayo set another new Paralympic record on Monday morning following the footsteps of compatriot Bose Omolayo, who set a new Paralympic Games record in the women’s -79kg Powerlifting event with her best lift of 141kg.
Behind Oluwafemiayo, Zheng Feifei of China followed with her silver medal lift of 139kg while Sugden Loiuse of Great Britain went home with the bronze after lifting 131kg.
Oluwafemiayo therefore joins her Team Nigeria athletes, who finished on the gold medal podium before her, Tijani Latifat and Bose Omolayo, all of which have so far been female athletes and all of whom have accomplished the feat in Powerlifting.
Altogether, Nigeria’s total number of medals at the ongoing events is now six, as, added to the three gold medals, are one silver and two bronze.
Coincidentally, all of these have come from the bench of the Powerlifting events.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
