Nigeria delivered a stunning statement of intent at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, producing a remarkable display in para powerlifting as Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Rita Ferdinand shattered world records while Team Nigeria finished the opening day with three gold medals and three silver medals.
Leading the charge was reigning world champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who once again proved why she is regarded as one of the greatest para powerlifters in history.
The Nigerian superstar claimed gold in the women’s heavyweight event after breaking her own world record twice during an unforgettable competition.
Oluwafemiayo first lifted 172kg on her second attempt to establish a new world record before raising the bar even higher with a phenomenal 175kg lift.
Her performance earned 134.8 points, securing the gold medal and extending her dominance on the international stage with the heaviest lift ever recorded in women’s para powerlifting.
Nigeria completed a memorable one-two finish in the event as Rita Ferdinand claimed the silver medal in spectacular fashion.
Ferdinand also etched her name into the history books after lifting 158kg, setting a new world record in her weight category and finishing with 128.2 points.
Earlier in the day, Esther Nworgu delivered Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games by winning the women’s lightweight category with two Commonwealth Games records, while veteran para powerlifter Roland Ezuruike secured the country’s first medal with silver in the men’s lightweight event.
The celebrations continued as Riluwan Idris rounded off Nigeria’s outstanding opening-day campaign by winning gold in the men’s heavyweight category.
Idris narrowly missed out on adding a Games record after failing in his attempt to lift 212kg, but his victory ensured Nigeria ended the day with an impressive haul of six medals, all won in para powerlifting.
At the close of the opening day’s competition, Team Nigeria is second behind Australia on the Commonwealth Games medal table with three gold medals and three silver medals, underlining the country’s long-standing reputation as a global powerhouse in para powerlifting.
Nigeria’s extraordinary performances not only delivered medals but also produced world and Games records, reinforcing the nation’s dominance in one of its strongest sporting disciplines and setting the tone for what promises to be another memorable Commonwealth Games campaign.
