Nigerian para-athlete Onyinyechi Mark has made history by lifting an impressive 150kg to win gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, surpassing the previous record set by fellow Nigerian powerlifter Lucy Ejike. Mark’s incredible performance secured Nigeria’s third medal at the Games, outlifting China’s Cui Jianjin, who took silver with a 140kg lift, and Mexico’s Amelia Perez, who earned bronze with 130kg.
This achievement continues Nigeria’s strong legacy in the Paralympics, particularly in powerlifting, where athletes such as Lucy Ejike and Bose Omolayo have previously set world records. Nigeria has consistently dominated the sport, earning numerous medals and honors across several Paralympic events.
Despite this success at the Paralympics, Nigeria faced a disappointing outcome in the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the country ended the games without securing any medals. The last Nigerian athlete in contention, Hannah Reuben, fell short in the women’s freestyle wrestling 76kg category, losing 5-2 to Mongolia’s Davaanasan Amar Enkh. Additionally, Nigeria’s 4x400m men’s relay team was disqualified, and top athlete Tobi Amusan was unable to advance to the final of the women’s 100m hurdles.
Looking ahead, the next Olympics in Los Angeles 2028 provide an opportunity for Nigeria to improve its preparation and performance.
