2026 CWG: Nigeria Dominates Para-Powerlifting As Oluwafemiayo, Nworgu Strike Gold

Nigeria’s para-powerlifting team made a thunderous statement at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Esther Nworgu winning gold medals in a stunning opening-day performance that delivered five medals for Team Nigeria.

Oluwafemiayo successfully defended her women’s heavyweight Commonwealth title in spectacular fashion, lifting an astonishing 175kg to shatter her own world record, which she had set at the 2025 World Para-Powerlifting Championship.

The 41-year-old amassed 134.8 points, comfortably finishing ahead of the rest of the field to retain the gold medal she first won at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Nigeria further strengthened its dominance in the event as Rita Ferdinand claimed the silver medal in the same category. Ferdinand lifted 158kg to score 128.2 points, finishing ahead of Australia’s Hani Watson.

The golden run continued in the women’s lightweight category, where Esther Nworgu delivered another outstanding performance to win gold with a Games record of 119 points.

Fellow Nigerian Esther Oyema completed a memorable outing by taking the silver medal with 115.5 points, while England’s Olivia Broome settled for bronze.

Earlier in the men’s lightweight event, Roland Ezuruike narrowly missed out on gold after losing to England’s Mark Swan by the slimmest of margins on decimal points, settling for silver in a heartbreaking finish.

The impressive haul gave Team Nigeria five medals from para-powerlifting on the opening day of competition, underlining the country’s continued dominance in the sport.

However, Nigeria’s fortunes were less encouraging in other events. Swimmer Clinton Opute finished sixth in the first heat of the men’s 200m individual medley, while boxers Ayomide Hassan and Abdulrahmon Abdulwahab suffered defeats in their respective bouts.