By John Essien
Nigeria’s Rafiatu Lawal broke three Commonwealth Games records as she powered to Birmingham 2022 glory in the women’s 59 kilograms weightlifting.
Her victory came a few hours after Team Nigeria celebrated the bronze medal won by Edidiong Joseph Umoafia in the men’s 67kg Weightlifting event.
African Games and Commonwealth Championships gold medallist Lawal lifted records in the snatch and clean and jerk – 90kg and 116kg respectively.
That added up to a total record of 206kg as she claimed a clear and comprehensive victory.
All of the other lifters had finished the snatch before Lawal had even made an attempt, and she went straight in with her record before failing twice.
England’s Jessica Gordon Brown won silver – 197kg while Canada’s Tali Darsigny claimed bronze: 196kg.
The medals are now trickling for Team Nigeria as they have so far garnered two gold and one bronze medals, with a all three medals coming from weightlifting event.
