Team Nigeria shone in Para Powerlifting on Day 9 of the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, securing a major podium finish.

Onyinyechi Mark made history by winning Nigeria’s first GOLD medal at the Games, lifting an incredible 147kg and breaking her own World Record in the process.

In the women’s 61kg category, she shattered Lucy Ejike’s previous Paralympic Record of 145kg, leaving her closest competitor attempting 138kg. Remarkably, this is Mark’s third World Record in just one
year in the women’s 61kg Para Powerlifting event.

Seven-time Paralympian Lucy Ejike narrowly missed out on a medal, making it the first time of not getting on the podium since her debut at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.

She failed to lift 139kg on her final attempt,
finishing 4th. Ejike has moved through different weight categories over the years and competed in the 67kg category in Paris.

Amon Abraham Okechukwu also represented Nigeria today in the men’s High Jump T44 event in Para Athletics. He finished in 6th place, clearing a height of 1.85m.

The Nigerian T44 Sports Festival champion began with a jump of 1.80m, improving on his next attempt to 1.85m.

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Yemi Galadima is a Senior Sportswriter and Editor at Making of Champions. She has a bias for Athletics and was previously a Sports Reporter at the National Mirror, where she hosted a weekly column ‘On the Track with Yemi Olus’ for over two years. A self-acclaimed ‘athletics junkie’, she has covered national and international events live, such as the African Athletics Championships, African Games, Olympics and World Athletics Championships. She also freelances for World Athletics.

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