The upcoming Paris 2024 Paralympics will see Nigerian para powerlifter Folashade Oluwafemiayo seeking to defend her title in the women’s over-86kg category while also aiming for new world records. Oluwafemiayo, who has already made a significant mark on the international stage with a gold and silver medal from her appearances at the Paralympic Games, continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to her sport at the age of 39.

Since her debut at the London 2012 Paralympics, where she first gained prominence, Oluwafemiayo has emerged as a remarkable athlete, representing Nigeria, which has been a dominant force in para powerlifting, particularly among female competitors, winning two of the last three Games. Her career has, however, seen challenges, including a two-year ban in 2013 for testing positive for a prohibited substance and then the absence from the Rio 2016 Games due to pregnancy. She made a triumphant return at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, clinching gold and reaffirming her status in the sport.

As Nigeria’s newly appointed general captain for the Paris 2024 Games, Oluwafemiayo expresses a profound sense of pride in her achievements, stating to BBC Sport Africa, “Winning these medals means a lot to me. It makes me feel among my other colleagues – I do not feel discriminated against. What an able body can do, I can do it too. I want to make Africa proud, Nigeria proud, and myself, my family, and my federation proud.”

Despite the challenges posed by her disability, stemming from contracting polio at the age of three, Oluwafemiayo holds the elite world record in her discipline, having lifted an impressive 165 kg at the 2024 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Looking towards the future, Oluwafemiayo is resolute in her ambitions, stating, “This will not be my last Paralympic Games. I am still training for more and I am targeting for more world records.” She acknowledges the intense competition she faces, especially as competitors like Zheng Feifei and Nataliia Oliinyk pursue to challenge her record, reinforcing her determination to maintain her leading position in the sport.

Oluwafemiayo is scheduled to compete on September 8 during the women’s over-86kg final, as she aims to further establish her legacy in the world of para powerlifting and uplift her nation on this esteemed platform.

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