Nigerian lifter breaks world record at Para Powerlifting Championships

Nigerian weightlifter, Alice Oluwafemiayo has broken the world record in the women’s +86kg category at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Mexico on Sunday.

The gold medal she won is Nigeria’s first at the World Championships. Nigeria is represented at the event by 11 powerlifters across different categories.

ALSO READ:

Oluwafemiayo broke the record after lifting 140kg in her first three attempts. On her last attempt, she chose to lift 145kg — setting a new world record in place of the record set by her fellow Nigerian, Loveline Orji in 2014.

She won Gold in the Group A Category of the Powerlifting Championships, held in Mexico City at Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gymnasium on December 02, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico.

China’s Feifei Zheng claimed silver at her first major international competition with a final lift of 130kg. Egypt´s 2010 world champion, Geehan Hassan completed the podium finish with 125kg.

“I feel very happy, it was not something I was expecting,” Oluwafemiayo was quoted as saying by paralympic.org.

Coach of the Nigerian contingent to the championships, Feyisetan Are, expressed his belief that Nigerian power-lifters can follow up Oluwafemiayo’s achievements.

ALSO READ: Meet the Nigerian dancer who broke the Guinness World Record for Longest Individual Dance Marathon

He also added that the team would win more medals at the competition.

“I believe that Nigerians are the best in power-lifting in the world.", he told a Nigerian daily. "

The first event of the competition and we have a world record already broken. Nigerians should expect more from the lifters in Mexico because they are capable of doing so,”.

The championships continue in Mexico City and the Nigerian contingent will hope they can follow in Oluwafemiayo's footsteps.