It is so delightful to watch Nigerian female athletes coast to victory back to back in their respective sports areas. Barely two weeks ago, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan broke the world record with a time of 12.06 seconds in the Women’s 100m Hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. Asisat Oshoala, a Nigerian football player also bagged the African player of the year (women) award in Rabat, Morocco.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXII Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations. This sports event is currently occurring in Birmingham, England, from 28 July to 8 August 2022.
The ongoing Commonwealth Games have proved that Nigerian women are “breaking the bias” this year. Remember that this year’s International Women’s Day was themed “Break the Bias”, it is gratifying to see Nigerian women go at it. Here is a list of some Nigerian female athletes and their successes in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
1. Adijat Adenike Olarinoye
Adijat is a 22-year-old Nigerian weightlifter, she won the first gold medal for Nigeria on July 30, 2022, in the 55 kg women’s weightlifting. She lifted 92 kg in snatched and 111 kg in clean and jerk, making a total of 203 kg. This is not Adijat’s first time making Nigeria proud because she has a remarkable history of winning. She won 3 gold medals in the 2019 Africa games. She also won the second gold medal at the 2021 weightlifting federation world championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
2. Rafiatu Afolashade Lawal
The 25-year-old won the second gold medal on July 31st in the Women’s 59 kg weightlifting. She lifted a combined total of 206 kg; 110 kg in snatch and 116 kg in clean and jerk. Rafiatu has set a Commonwealth record for accumulated lifts. In her words, “I’m so excited and happy because I didn’t expect what happened today. I wasn’t under any pressure because of the support my English opponent received from the home crowd. I’ve trained very hard and my target coming here was to get the gold medal”. It’s so satisfactory that she ended up winning her target; the gold medal.
3. Islamiyat Adebukola Yusuf
On the first of August, the 19-year-old won the 4th medal in the 64kg weightlifting event, a bronze medal. She lifted a total of 212 kg from the snatch, and the clean and jerk. Although she failed the first time, she came back stronger to carry her crown. Islamiyat Adebukola was born on 3rd March 2003 and is presently a student at Lagos State University.
4. Taiwo Liadi
August 2nd was an auspicious day as Nigeria had a whopping lot of four medals. Taiwo Liadi, a 19-year-old Nigerian weightlifter also won a silver medal in the 76 kg women’s weightlifting. She lifted a combined total of 216 kg. She set a junior record by lifting 120 kg in clean and jerk. Furthermore, she lifted 96 kg in the snatch. Taiwo Liadi’s victory is the fifth victory of Nigeria in the Commonwealth Games.
5. Mary Taiwo Osijo
The 25-year-old lady clinched the bronze medal in the Women’s 87 kg weightlifting. She lifted a total of 225 kg in the snatch and clean & jerk. She has an unblemished series of weightlifting as she lifted all attempts and deservedly won the bronze medal.
6. Chioma Onyekwere
The 28-year-old Nigerian track and field athlete won a gold medal in the Discus Throw game, setting the national record. She is also the second African to ever win a gold medal in the Commonwealth women’s Discus Throw game. The American-born threw 61.70m in her game.
7. Obiageri Amaechi
Obiageri is a 23-year-old born in Sans Francisco. She bagged the eighth medal (bronze) for Nigeria in the women’s Discus Throw, throwing 56.99m in her 5th attempt. Chioma Onyekwere and Obiageri Amaechi made history as they earned Nigeria her first two medals in a Discus Throw event.
So far, Nigeria has 8 medals; 3 gold, 4 bronze, and one silver medal, seven of which were won by women. This feat is great as we hope Nigeria will continue winning globally.