Omotayo Adigun
Nigeria’s para powerlifting icon, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, has once again etched her name in history, breaking her own world record to win gold at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday.
The 40-year-old powerhouse lifted 168 kg in the women’s over 86 kg category, surpassing her previous world record of 167 kg, which she set at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Her stunning performance not only earned her a fourth world title but also reaffirmed her dominance in the sport on the global stage.
China’s Cui Zhe claimed silver, while Iran’s Nikoo Roozbahani took home the bronze medal.
Oluwafemiayo, a two-time Paralympic champion, has built an extraordinary legacy since making her international debut. Competing in her fifth World Championships, she has now secured gold in Mexico City (2017), Nur-Sultan (2019), Tbilisi (2021), and Cairo (2025).
Her triumph in Cairo is particularly symbolic, marking the first time the World Para Powerlifting Championships have been held in Africa. The 11th edition of the event ran from October 9 to 18, featuring both the Rookie & Next Gen and Elite World Championships.
Oluwafemiayo’s journey to global greatness has been one of perseverance and resilience. She began para powerlifting in 2010 and made an immediate impact, winning silver at the London 2012 Paralympics in the women’s -75 kg category — all while pregnant.
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Her career faced setbacks, including a two-year suspension in 2013 after testing positive for a banned substance, and another break in 2016 due to pregnancy. Yet, each time, she returned stronger.
Her comeback at the Mexico City 2017 World Championships saw her capture gold with a record-breaking lift, which she successfully defended in Nur-Sultan 2019. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, she dominated the women’s up to 86 kg event with a 151 kg lift — 12 kg ahead of her nearest rival — to secure her first Paralympic gold.
Following that, she added gold medals at the Tbilisi 2021 World Championships and the Cairo 2022 African Open Championships. Though she faced a rare setback at Dubai 2023, finishing with bronze, she bounced back stronger than ever in Paris 2024, where she lifted 167 kg to set her previous world record before shattering it again in Cairo.
Now, with another record to her name and her fourth world title secured, Folashade Oluwafemiayo stands as a living testament to perseverance, strength, and the unyielding spirit of Nigerian athletes.