Paris 2024: Rafiatu Lawal eyes podium finish in weightlifting

After winning gold medals at the last Commonwealth Games and African Games, the next target for Nigerian weightlifter Rafiatu Lawal,s to get a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The weightlifter said she’s eager to join the list of Olympians who have won Olympic Games medals in the past for Nigeria, particularly in weightlifting.

Nigeria has won only two medals in weightlifting since the start of her participation in the four-year competition in Helsinki, Finland, in 1952.

She booked a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France in the 59kg while Joy Eze is also through to the Olympics in the 71kg having also dominated Africa in her weight class.

Lawal lifted a combined total lift of 227kg, with a snatch of 101kg as well as 126kg in Clean and Jerk in the 2024 IWF World Championship in Thailand set a new African record in the women’s 59kg and also picked her Olympics ticket.

“I am super excited to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; I have never felt this happy in my life since I started competing. It is also a thing of joy to set another African record en route to the Olympic Games.

“I am delighted to be on the training tour in Germany and this will help me to hit form before the start of the Olympic Games.

“My motivating factor is from my childhood. I have always had it in mind that I want to become one of the most successful sports personalities in Africa when I grow up. I am happy the coast is becoming clearer.”

The Weightlifting event at the Paris Olympics will commence on Wednesday, August 7.

Lawal has won gold medals in the 59kg category at the 2019 and 2023 African Games as well as the African Championships in 2021.

At the Commonwealth Championship in Tashkent 2021, she also won a gold medal.