Paralympic Games: Nigeria, flagship powerlifting nation
Nigerian Latifat Tijani in gold in Tokyo.
AFP - PHILIP FONG
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 min
Four days ago, Latifat Tijani won Nigeria's first gold medal in “powerlifting” (-48 kg).
This Monday, August 30, his compatriot Folashade Oluwafemiayo followed the example in the category of less than 86 kilos.
And Loveline Obiji left with a silver medal around her neck (+86 kg).
On Sunday, Bose Omolayo also stood out by winning gold in the under 79 kilograms.
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From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
Music between each athlete, a performance hall and the cry when lifting the weights.
The ritual is the same each time.
The athlete enters the stage, lies down under the bar and his trainer takes care to tie him up.
We start counting down the minute the silence arrives.
At the end of the sixty seconds, the announcer announces very loudly into the microphone the “Good lift” or the “No lift”.
Welcome to
powerlifting
, Rocky music in your ears, between din and total silence.
Increasingly popular sport on the Lagos side
A strength sport,
powerlifting,
like weightlifting, consists of lifting bars, but it is distinguished by its technically more basic movements, where the loads are heavier and where the amplitude is reduced.
On the African continent, one country is doing well: Nigeria.
"
It's very popular with us, especially in the western part of the country,
" said a Nigerian journalist who made the trip to Tokyo.
“
It has almost become a fashion in the neighborhoods of Lagos and we get together in the evening to compete.
It's a sport that has seen great promotion,
”he adds.
In Nigeria,
powerlifting
, a discipline also known as powerlifting, is therefore a hit.
Nigerian Loveline Obiji (l) walked away with a silver medal around her neck.
© Farid Achache / RFI
In Rio five years ago, Nigerian athletes won no less than nine medals, including six gold, in the different categories of this discipline.
In Tokyo, in the category of less than 86 kilos, Folashade Oluwafemiayo was adorned with gold on Monday, August 30.
Earlier this year, at the World Championships in Manchester, Folashade Oluwafemiayo had beaten Mariana Shevshuk, with a load of 150.5 kg lifted.
The country had dominated the competition with ten gold and three silver medals.
At the Tokyo international forum, Loveline Obiji also left this Monday, August 30 with a medal around her neck, silver color.
The day before, Bose Omolayo had distinguished herself by winning gold in the under 79 kilos.
Since the start of the Paralympic Games, Nigeria's three gold medals have been gleaned in
powerlifting
!
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Paralympic Games 2021
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