Nigeria celebrated its first gold medal at the Paralympics, thanks to an astonishing display of strength by Onyinyechi Mark. In three remarkable lifts, she broke her own record and surpassed the previous record set by fellow Nigerian, Lucy Ejike.
Onyinyechi’s first lift of 140kg placed her in gold medal contention. Her second attempt of 145kg broke the Paralympic record by 3kg. She wasn’t done yet—her third and final lift of 150kg set a new world record, marking an incredible feat in para-powerlifting.
Onyinyechi now holds the last three world records in her category—146kg, 147kg, and 150kg. Born in Umuahia, she has cemented her legacy as one of Nigeria’s greatest powerlifters.
Later today, Lucy Ejike, a 46-year-old para-powerlifting veteran with three Paralympic gold medals, will compete in the women’s up to 67kg category, aiming to add another title to her illustrious career. The competition begins at 4 pm.
After securing the gold medal in women’s up to 61kg para-powerlifting, Onyinyechi Mark returned to smash her own world record, setting a new benchmark of 150kg.
Did you know she has set the last three world records in this event: 146kg, 147kg, and 150kg—all within one year? Breathtaking and simply out of this world, breaking two world records in just 10 minutes!
