One of Team Nigeria’s weightlifters at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Rafiatu Lawal, is optimistic about securing a podium finish despite this being her debut appearance on the global stage.
Lawal expressed her confidence that the weightlifting team will perform admirably in their first Olympic appearance. She is determined to join the ranks of past Nigerian Olympians who have earned medals, particularly in weightlifting.
Since Nigeria’s first participation in weightlifting at the 1952 Helsinki Games, the country has secured only two weightlifting medals. Ruth Ogbeifo achieved Nigeria’s first weightlifting medal in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, winning silver in the 75kg category. Mariam Usman, a four-time African Champion, earned Nigeria’s second medal with a bronze in the +75kg category at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Lawal, who has dominated both African and Commonwealth competitions, secured her spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the 59kg category. Joy Eze also qualified for the Olympics in the 71kg category, having similarly excelled in Africa.
At the 2024 IWF World Championship in Thailand, Lawal set a new African record in the women’s 59kg with a combined total lift of 227kg, including a snatch of 101kg and a Clean and Jerk of 126kg. This performance earned her an Olympic berth.
Excited about the upcoming Games, Lawal shared with the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation Media her enthusiasm for traveling to Paris. After over two months of training in Nigeria, she believes this journey will enhance her Olympic performance.
Having achieved success at the African Games, Senior Weightlifting Championships, and Commonwealth Games, Lawal is hopeful that adding an Olympic medal to her achievements will solidify her status as one of Africa’s most successful weightlifters.
“I am super excited to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; I have never felt this happy in my life since I started competing. It is also a thing of joy to set another African record en route to the Olympic Games,” Lawal told NWF Media.
“I had previously said that the most important thing to compete well at this level was proper funding and adequate preparations. I can boldly say that I have had the best build-up in Nigeria. We were in camp courtesy of our hardworking President, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) Dr Ibrahim Abdul for over close to two months before the Ministry of Sports took over the athlete’s preparations.
“I am delighted to be on the training tour in Germany and this will help me hit form before the Olympic Games start.
“My motivating factor is from my childhood. I have always had it in mind that I want to become one of the most successful sports personalities in Africa when I grow up. I am happy the coast is becoming clearer.”
The African Games triple gold medallist continued: “I want to thank the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde for his efforts in transforming sports in the state. He has focused on other sports and is trying his best to give us a sense of belonging.
“We need more recognition and support from the Nigerian Government. President Bola Tinubu needs to give 100% attention to other sports, which always dominate medals when it comes to competition time.”
Lawal applauded the relentless spirit of the President of NWF, Dr. Abdul for ensuring she attended all the Olympic Qualifiers from where she got her ticket.
She said: “My message to the weightlifting family: I appreciate everyone that supports me in one way or another, especially the President of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Dr Ibrahim Abdul.“At the beginning of the Olympic qualification, he said he would try his best to make sure weightlifting qualifies for the Paris Olympic Games because we did not feature at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In most cases, the President funds our various International Championships with the support of other board members. I want to thank them all for ensuring my dream becomes a reality.”
Lawal set a Games record of 206kg from her snatch and clean and jerk lifts at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the women’s 59kg weightlifting. She has already conquered the continent by picking 59kg gold at the 2019 African Games in Morocco, the 2021 African Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, and the 2023 African Games in Ghana.
The Weightlifting event at the Paris Olympics will commence on Wednesday, August 7.
