Glasgow 2026: Rafiatu Lawal Wins Nigeria’s Sixth Gold, Smashes Commonwealth Games Records
Nigeria’s impressive campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow gathered more momentum on Sunday as Rafiatu Folashade Lawal claimed the country’s sixth gold medal with a record-breaking performance in the women’s 58kg weightlifting event.
The reigning Commonwealth champion successfully defended her title in dominant fashion, setting new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records in all three categories—Snatch, Clean & Jerk, and Total.
Lawal opened her campaign with a brilliant display in the Snatch, lifting 103kg on her final attempt to erase the previous Games and Commonwealth records. The remarkable effort handed her a commanding nine-kilogram advantage over Canada’s Ann-Sophie Taschereau, who managed 94kg.
The Nigerian weightlifter maintained her dominance in the Clean & Jerk, producing a successful lift of 126kg, another Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth record.
Her combined total of 229kg also established a new Games and Commonwealth record, completing a clean sweep of record-breaking lifts and underlining her status as one of the finest weightlifters at the Games.
Lawal finished 14 kilograms clear of silver medallist Ann-Sophie Taschereau of Canada, who recorded a total lift of 215kg, leaving the rest of the field well behind.
The victory secured Nigeria’s sixth gold medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and further strengthened the country’s outstanding reputation in weightlifting, where its athletes have consistently delivered podium finishes and broken records.
Lawal’s latest triumph adds to an already memorable campaign for Team Nigeria, with the nation’s weightlifters continuing to dominate the competition through world-class performances and multiple record-breaking displays.
Her successful title defence and clean sweep of Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records stand out as one of the defining moments of Nigeria’s campaign in Glasgow, reaffirming the country’s position as a powerhouse in international weightlifting.
