Team Nigeria’s Captain at the ongoing Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Lucy Ejike has won a third gold medal for the country.
She achieved the feat by shattering the Paralympic and World Record three successive times to dominate the women’s 61kg event in Power-lifting.
Ejike began her campaign to victory at the Riocentro Pavillion 2 on Sunday with a successful attempt at 136.0kg, which was a new Paralympic Record (PR) and World Record (WR).
She went on to set a superior mark of 138.0kg at her next attempt, before culminating with a massive lift of 142.0kg.
Inspired by her impressive form, the 38-year-old requested for the weights to be set at 145kg outside of competition. However she was unable to make a clean lift, and her mark of 142.0kg survived the onslaught.
Ejike’s victory is Nigeria’s fifth medal at the ongoing Games, and third GOLD medal behind Roland Ezuruike and Paul Kehinde who also dominated their respective categories in the Power-lifting event. Latifat Tijani and Esther Onyema won Silver medals respectively.
The Paralympics team has already surpassed the achievement of their able-bodied counterpart who could only win a bronze medal at the Rio games.
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
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