Onyinyechi Mark from Nigeria has set a new Paralympic record in the women’s 61kg powerlifting division.
Bellnews reports that Mark lifted an impressive 150kg to make this extraordinary achievement, surpassing the former record established by fellow Nigerian athlete, Lucy Ejike.
Mark’s outstanding performance guaranteed Nigeria its third medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
She overcame the challenge from China’s Cui Jianjin, who won silver after lifting 140 kilograms.
Mexico’s Amelia Perez won bronze, falling 10 kilogrammes behind her Chinese rival after pulsating lift attempts.
Nigeria has a rich legacy in the Paralympics, particularly in powerlifting and athletics. During the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the nation earned a total of ten medals, including four golds.
The Nigerian team has consistently demonstrated its prowess in powerlifting, with athletes such as Lucy Ejike and Bose Omolayo achieving world records and securing numerous gold medals.
The ongoing success of Nigeria at the Paralympics underscores the country’s commitment to nurturing and advancing its para-athletes.
Team Nigeria Ends 2024 Olympics Without Medals
It could be recalled that team Nigeria ended their participation in the 2024 Olympics 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, without securing any medals for the country.
Hannah Reuben, the last remaining athlete representing Nigeria, aimed to clinch a medal for the West African Country in the women’s freestyle wrestling 76kg category.
Unfortunately, she was defeated in her second-round fight, losing 5-2 (by points) to Mongolia’s Davaanasan Amar Enkh.
The disappointment came from Tobi Amusan’s inability to advance to the final of the women’s 100m hurdles.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s 4x400m men’s relay team faced disqualification following their semi-final race. This unfortunate outcome marked Nigeria’s poorest performance at the Olympics since the 2012 London Games.
Looking ahead, the next Olympics are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in 2028, which means that the sports ministry in Nigeria has at most four years to prepare for another game.