Nigeria’s medal haul at the Tokyo Paralympics on Monday increased to five – all from powerlifting – after Folashade Oluwafemiayo claimed gold in the women’s 86kg category.
The 32-year-old becomes the third Nigerian athlete to win gold in the competition, following in the footsteps of Tijani Latifat and Bose Omolayo.
She also set a new Paralympics record after she lifted 152kg in the Japanese capital, breaking the former world record (151kg) she set on March 28 in Manchester.
In Tokyo, China’s Zheng Feifei took the silver medal with a 139kg lift, as Sugden Loiuse of Great Britain won bronze following a 131kg lift.
Nigeria also has two bronze medals from powerlifting.
An elated Oluwafemiayo who described her feat at the Games as “great”, said she owed it to God.
“I feel very, very great,” Oluwafemiayo told the Paralympics website. “I thank God because it was God all the way; not by my own power, but by the power of God.
“He was giving me grace, and I give Him the admiration for standing right behind me. I’ve been asking for this from God, and He gave it to me.”
