Nigerian powerlifting sensation Folashade Oluwafemiayo claimed gold in the women’s over 86kg category at the Paris Paralympics, setting two new world records in a dominant performance at La Chapelle Arena.
The 39-year-old lifted 166kg in her third attempt to break her world record of 165kg which she set earlier this year, on June 25 at the World Para Powerlifting Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia. Then having already secured gold, she shattered the record again with a fourth lift of 167kg.
Oluwafemiayo, who previously won gold in the under 86kg category at the Tokyo Paralympics, added to her legacy with Sunday’s triumph.
L-R: Silver medallist Deng Xuemei from China, gold medallist Folashade Oluwafemiayo and bronze medallist Nadia Ali from Egypt (Photo by Zabihullah Shahzaad)
PARA POWERLIFTING GREAT Her victory in Paris solidifies her status as one of the sport’s greats, adding another gold to her already illustrious career, which includes silver in the under 75kg category at the London Paralympics and three World Championship titles (2017, 2019, 2021).
Chinese powerlifter Deng Xuemei, the defending champion in the women’s over 86kg category from Tokyo, performed consistently, completing all her attempts and matching her Tokyo mark with a 153kg lift in her second attempt and lifting 155kg in her final attempt. However, this was not enough to retain her title, and she took home the silver medal.
Egypt’s Nadia Ali, competing in her fifth Paralympics, secured her fourth Paralympic medal with a bronze finish. Ali successfully lifted 141kg and 145kg in her first two attempts but was unable to complete a 154kg lift in her third.
OTHER COMPETITORS Indonesia’s Sriyanti finished just outside the podium, placing fourth with a best lift of 138kg. Her teammate Zieba managed 135kg in her first attempt but struggled with heavier weights, missing 140kg and 146kg in her next attempts, landing her in fifth place.
Australian lifter Hani Watson secured sixth place with a successful 133kg lift but missed her following attempts at 138kg and 140kg. Mexico’s Barcenas Ponce de Leon Perla Patricia lifted 130kg for a seventh-place finish after missing 136kg in her final attempt. The USA’s Ashley Dyce finished eighth with a best lift of 112kg, while Libya’s Ghazalah Alaqouri completed lifts of 85kg, 90kg, and 93kg, finishing ninth.
GLOBAL DOMINANCE Oluwafemiayo’s record-breaking performance captivated the audience, cementing her place as the strongest woman in Paralympic powerlifting and continuing her streak of global dominance.
