Record-breaking trio fire Nigeria to Commonwealth Games glory

Team Nigeria continued its impressive campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Monday, as Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, Edidiong Joseph Umoafia and Onome Omolola Didih secured gold medals in record breaking fashion.

Lawal delivered a commanding performance in the women’s 58kg weightlifting event, lifting a combined 229kg to set a new Commonwealth Games record. She opened with a 103kg snatch, establishing a comfortable lead before sealing victory with a 126kg clean and jerk.

Canada’s Ann-Sophie Taschereau claimed silver with 215kg, while India’s Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam settled for bronze with 199kg.

Earlier, Umoafia struck gold in the men’s 71kg category after producing a record breaking total of 319kg.

The Nigerian lifter recorded a 147kg snatch and a 172kg clean and jerk to finish ahead of Samoa’s John Lautafi Tafi, who took silver with 314kg. Nauru’s Ezekiel Moses secured bronze with 310kg.

Didih also made history in the women’s 53kg event, setting new Commonwealth and Games records with a 93kg snatch before completing a winning total of 206kg.

India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav earned silver with 199kg, while Canada’s Rebeka Groulx took bronze with 178kg.

The trio’s victories increased Nigeria’s medal haul to six gold and four silver medals, strengthening the country’s position at the Games.

Nigeria’s weightlifting team has now amassed three gold and one silver medal, complementing the nation’s success in para powerlifting, where Esther Nworgu, Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Riluwan Idris won gold, while Esther Oyema, Roland Ezuruike, and Rita Ferdinand claimed silver.