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Nigerian Women Who Won medals At The 2024 Paralympics
Team Nigeria’s exploits at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris ended on Sunday, September 8.
Nigeria ended the competition across various categories with seven medals – two gold, three silver, and two bronze finishing 40th on the medal table. Out of the seven medals, six were worn by women.
Here is a list of the Nigerian women who won medals at the 2024 Paralympics.
1. Eniola Bolaji
Eniola Bolaji opened Nigeria’s winning streak at the 2014 Paralympics in Paris. The 18-year-old not only won a bronze medal in the women’s badminton event, but she also made history by becoming the first African athlete to win a medal in Para-Badminton since the sport became part of the Olympics in 1992.
2. Flora Ugwunwa
Flora Ugwunwa won a silver medal in the women’s javelin throw event. She competed in the women’s F54 category of the athletics event and achieved a throw of 19.26 metres to finish second in the competition.
The winning throw was her second in the competition’s final, with her first being 18.00m. Her third was 18.24m, with the fourth, fifth and sixth being 18.68m, 18.40m, and 17.50m respectively. Her win also marked Nigeria’s first medal in the Para-Athletics at Paris 2024. The 40-year-old has now won three consecutive Paralympic medals, two GOLDs (Rio, Tokyo) and now Silver (Paris).
3. Onyinyechi Mark
Onyinyechi Mark won Nigeria’s first gold medal at the Paralympics in Paris in the women’s 61kg powerlifting category. She also set a new record lifting 145kg surpassing the previous record held by compatriot Lucy Ejike.
4. Bose Omolayo
Bose Omolayo took the silver medal in the women’s 79kg para-powerlifting event. She lifted an impressive 145 kg to secure the silver medal behind China’s Han Miayou, who broke the world record with a 154 kg lift, while the bronze medal went to Egypt’s Safaa Hassan, who lifted 139 kg.
Omolayo, a veteran in the Paralympics previously won gold at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
5. Esther Ogechi Nworgu
Esther Ogechi Nworgu clinched a silver medal in the women’s up to 41kg para-powerlifting category. She also set two new Paralympic records with her final lifts of 112kg and 118kg.
However, China’s Zhe Cui narrowly secured the gold by setting a new record of 119kg.
6. Folashade Oluwafemiayo
Team Nigeria’s captain, Folashade Oluwafemiayo ended Nigeria’s sojourn at the Paralympics on a high note with her history-making performance.
She not only won a gold medal in the women’s over 86kg Para-Powerlifting, but she also made history by becoming the first Para-athlete to lift 167kg breaking two world records in the process.
