Team Nigeria’s Rafiatu Folashade Lawal narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the Women’s 59kg Weightlifting event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing fifth in an intensely competitive field.
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Rafiatu put on a commendable performance, lifting 100kg in the Snatch and 130kg in the Clean & Jerk, achieving a total of 230kg. However, her tally fell just short of a medal by 5kg, as Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Hsing-chun claimed the bronze with 235kg.
The competition was fierce, with China’s Luo Shifang setting a new Olympic Record with a combined lift of 241kg, securing the gold. Canadian Maude Charron followed closely, earning the silver with a total of 236kg.
Kuo Hsing-chun’s 235kg was enough to secure her the bronze, narrowly edging out Lawal and Venezuela’s Angie Venegas, who also posted a total of 230kg but was placed fourth due to bodyweight differences.
Lawal’s lift of 130kg in the Clean & Jerk matched her personal best, demonstrating her strength and determination on the Olympic stage.
However, the disappointment was palpable as the final standings revealed how close she came to making history for Nigeria.
In an event where every kilogram counts, Lawal’s performance was a testament to her preparation and resilience, as she vied against some of the world’s best weightlifters.
Despite the near miss, her achievement is still significant, as she tied with two other competitors, including Venegas and Philippine’s Elreen Ando, both of whom also lifted 230kg. However, due to tiebreaker rules, which consider the athlete’s bodyweight, Lawal was placed fifth.
Though a medal eluded her, Lawal’s effort at the Paris 2024 Olympics will inspire many and adds to her growing reputation in international weightlifting. As she returns home, she does so with her head held high, knowing she gave her all on the world’s biggest stage.
