Nigeria's weightlifting sensation, Lawal promises good outing

Posted : 08 August 2024

Nigeria's weightlifters at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games will begin their chase for medals on Thursday, August 8, 2024, when Rafiatu Lawal competes in the Women's 59 kg weight class at the South Paris Arena inside the Paris Expo Complex.

Rafiatu was selected to represent Nigeria in Paris after qualifying by garnering the necessary points in various championships she attended. As she marks her Olympic debut, she carries the aspirations and hopes of many Nigerians who expect her to perform admirably in Paris.

Lawal, a 27-year-old lifter, is a two-time African Champion from the African Games in 2019 and 2023, held in Morocco and Ghana, respectively. She is also a Commonwealth Games champion from Birmingham 2022.

All eyes will be on her starting at 2 p.m. on Thursday as she faces 10 other weightlifters from around the globe in the Women's 59 kg category, competing for Olympic medals.

She will be up against the reigning Olympic champion in this weight class, 30-year-old Chun Hsing Kuo from Chinese Taipei, who also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Another strong competitor is Shifang Luo of China, the current World Record holder in this weight class with a lift of 248 kg, despite being only 23 years old.

Making her Olympic debut, Lawal faces strong competition, including Charron Maude of Canada, the 2021 Olympic Games Gold medallist in the Women's 64 kg category. Other competitors include Ann Elreen Ando (Philippines), Anyelin Venegas (Venezuela), Lucrezia Magistris (Italy), Yenny Alvarez (Colombia), Mathlynn Sasser (Marshall Islands), Kamila Konotop (Ukraine), Dora Tchakoute (France), and Valdivia Gomez from Mexico.

In an interview, Lawal expressed her hope to make the most of her Olympic debut and her readiness to give her all in her determined effort to make a lasting impression in Paris. She stated she is in high spirits and fully charged to ensure Nigeria ranks among the best in the Women's 59 kg category by the end of Thursday's events.

"I have prepared very well for this and am eager to give my best in Paris, France. The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, under the able leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, did a great job preparing us before the Ministry of Sports took over, and it is my personal wish to do my best in the competition," Lawal told NWF Media.

"It is my Olympic Games debut, but I am not inexperienced. I have participated in many competitions that have equipped me for moments like this. I am going to the competition with high hopes of giving my all to defend my country."

The President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Ibrahim Abdul, encouraged Lawal to embrace Nigeria's "I can do" spirit and recall the techniques that have worked for her in preparation for the Olympic Games. He urged her to aim for a spot in the medal zone and assured her of the NWF's solid support.

"We in the NWF know what Rafiatu is capable of, and we are fully behind her as she competes in the Women's 59 kg category on Thursday. We have prepared her and her team for the Olympic Games in the best possible way, and we expect her to give a strong performance in Paris," the NWF President said.

Dr. Abdul urged Nigerians to support both weightlifters, especially Rafiatu Lawal, who will compete first on Thursday afternoon.

Nigeria's weightlifting sensation, Lawal promises good outing

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