Folashade Oluwafemiayo delivered another historic performance for Team Nigeria, breaking the World Record to win the women’s heavyweight para powerlifting gold medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Trybal News reports.
Competing at the SEC Armadillo, the reigning world champion lifted an incredible 134.8kg to successfully defend her title, producing a record-breaking display that further cemented her status as one of the greatest para powerlifters in the world.
Nigeria completed another remarkable one-two finish in the event as Rita Ferdinand claimed the silver medal with a lift of 128.2kg. Her effort also eclipsed the previous World Record, highlighting Team Nigeria’s overwhelming dominance in the competition. Australia’s Hani Watson settled for the bronze medal with 111.5kg.
The latest success continues Nigeria’s dream start to the Games. Earlier in the day, Esther Nworgu won gold with a Games Record in the women’s lightweight category, while Esther Oyema secured silver. Roland Ezuruike also claimed silver in the men’s lightweight event.
With Oluwafemiayo’s gold and Ferdinand’s silver, Team Nigeria has now amassed five medals at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, two gold and three silver with para powerlifting once again proving to be one of the nation’s strongest medal-producing sports.
Speaking through her performance, Oluwafemiayo once again demonstrated why she remains the athlete to beat on the international stage, while Ferdinand’s breakthrough silver-medal display announced her arrival among the sport’s elite.
The impressive medal haul has provided Team Nigeria with early momentum as the country’s athletes continue their quest to surpass the National Sports Commission’s target of winning between 16 and 20 gold medals, with athletics, wrestling, boxing, weightlifting and several other events still to come.
