- Onyinyechi Mark broke two world records to secure gold in the women’s 61kg powerlifting event
- Also, Folashade Oluwafemiayo made history by lifting 166kg to win gold in the women’s over 86kg powerlifting event
- Esther Nworgu set two Paralympic records to win silver in the women’s up to 41kg powerlifting event, among other accolades for Team Nigeria
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games marked another chapter in Nigeria’s illustrious history at the event, as the country continued its unbroken streak of winning medals since its debut in 1992. From August 28 to September 8, Nigerian athletes once again showcased their resilience, bringing home a total of seven medals; two gold, three silver, and two bronze, finishing 40th on the overall medal table.
While Nigeria’s Olympic athletes faced heavy criticism for their failure to secure any medals earlier in the summer, the Paralympians emerged as the country's saving grace, defying the odds to secure podium finishes.
The comparison between the two teams brought up conversations about the Nigeria Athletics Federation (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympics Committee’s (NOC) role in mismanaging top-tier talent.
One of the most remarkable performances came from Onyinyechi Mark, a powerhouse in the women’s 61kg powerlifting category. At just 23 years old, Mark not only won Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games but also set new Paralympic and world records.
She opened with a stunning 145kg lift and then, in a jaw-dropping final attempt, raised the bar to 147kg, leaving her competitors in awe.
Mark’s dominance was unrivalled, with China’s Cui Jianjin finishing second after lifting 140kg, and Mexico’s Amalia Pérez, a four-time Paralympic champion, taking bronze with 130kg.
Nigeria's second gold came courtesy of Folashade Oluwafemiayo in the women’s over 86kg powerlifting category. The celebrated para-powerlifter made history by becoming the first athlete in her category to lift 166kg, adding another impressive chapter to her storied career.
Her record-breaking lift demonstrated the perseverance and strength that have defined her rise to the top.
In the javelin F54 event, Flora Ugwunwa added a silver medal to Nigeria’s tally with a throw of 19.26 meters. Ugwunwa, who first gained international recognition by winning gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, has since become a regular fixture on the podium.
Although she narrowly missed out on gold, Uzbekistan’s Nurkhon Kurbanova set a new world record with a 21.12-meter throw.
In another silver-winning performance, Esther Nworgu stood out in the women’s up to 41kg powerlifting category. Nworgu broke two Paralympic records with lifts of 112kg and 118kg, highlighting her as one of the brightest talents in the sport.
Making history in para table tennis, Isaac Ogunkunle secured a bronze medal in the men’s singles Class 4 event.
Ogunkunle’s path to the podium was anything but easy, as he faced and defeated top-tier opponents, including reigning Paralympic champion Abdullah Ozturk of Turkey and France’s Maxime Thomas, a Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist.
The success of Nigeria’s Paralympians is in stark contrast to the disappointing outing of their Olympic counterparts.
Many have attributed the Olympic team’s failure to the incompetence of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), despite this the Paralympic athletes' performances show how much talent we have at our disposal as a country.
The triumphs in Paris show that with proper support, Nigerian athletes are capable of dominating any sporting competition on the world stage.
Paris 2024: 20 interesting facts about the Paralympics game
Previously, TheRadar reported that the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games kicked off in style with a spectacular opening ceremony at the historic Place de la Concorde in Paris.
Over the next week, more than 4,000 athletes will vie for 549 medals in 22 different sports at the 17th Paralympic Games.
The opening ceremony featured the introduction of athletes from around the world, each proudly waving the flags of their nations. Team Nigeria was among the nations represented, with Lauritta Onye leading the contingent as the flagbearer.
