Folashade Lawal Set to Represent Nigeria at International Weightlifting Championship in Norway
Nigeria’s top weightlifter, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, is set to represent the country as its only athlete at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Championship in Forde, Norway. The multiple gold medalist at the African Games and Commonwealth Games will travel to Scandinavia this Tuesday ahead of the global competition.
The championship is scheduled to begin this Thursday and will run until October 11th. Lawal is determined to put up a strong performance to increase her chances of qualifying for the next Commonwealth Games. She will compete in the women’s 58 kg category on October 4th. Leaving early will allow her to train in Norway and also adapt to the country’s weather before her event.
Lawal, who hails from Oyo State, represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics where she placed fifth in the women’s 59 kg division with a total lift of 230 kg. Speaking ahead of her trip, the athlete explained that she has been training very hard and is confident of delivering a podium finish at the championship. She added that despite the challenges of adapting to a new environment, she is excited about the opportunity and believes she can make Nigeria proud.
Her career achievements already highlight her as one of Nigeria’s most successful weightlifters. In 2019, she won gold in the women’s 59 kg event at the African Games in Rabat, Morocco. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, she also claimed gold in the same category. Earlier this year, in March 2024, she triumphed again at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, winning gold in the 59 kg event.
In August 2024, Lawal was Nigeria’s representative at the Paris Olympics where she finished fifth overall with a combined lift of 230 kg. Despite not making it to the medal spots, her performance was praised as one of determination and strength, showing she remains among the best in her class.
As she prepares for the Norway championship, Lawal has expressed her excitement at being the only Nigerian in the competition, saying the spotlight motivates her even more. Her goal remains clear — to finish strong, bring honor to Nigeria, and take one step closer to securing a spot at the Commonwealth Games next year.
