Esther Nworgu has narrated her story of triumph at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, the Para-powerlifting Silver Medal list in the 41 kg category.
She tell her story of how she lost her leg as an eight year old child, injured her shoulder a few days to the event and manages to create an African Record in the event, coming short of the World Record by one kilogram, losing the gold to the defending Champions Chinese Cui Zhe.
“I was so emotional because I never expected any medal from this competition,” Nworgu told reporters.
“I had an injury two days ago and the doctors confirmed that I should not compete because it was critical.
“There is no adjective I can use to quantify my happiness right now.
“It is like heaven to me,” the wheelchair user added with heavy strapping on her right shoulder after the medal ceremony.
As an eight-year-old Esther Nworgu lost the use of her legs without a clinical reason before then starting the sport a decade ago.
“I accepted my disability, joined it with the love in my personality and this (the medal) is the result,” she said.
“I don’t like using “d-i-s” in my ability, I like using “th-i-s” in my ability.
“When there is disability there is ability and what people see as ‘disability’ is not what I see, I see it as a strength and an ability.
“In sport, there are many things you have to realise about yourself.
“Sport is like an X-ray, it brings you out and shows what you are inside,” she added philosophically.
Nworgu is part of a strong Nigeria powerlifting field in the French capital which includes eight competitors and host of world record holders, and many medals are on the horizon.
