In a fiercely contested final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nigeria’s Joy Ogbonne Eze narrowly missed out on a medal in the Women’s 71kg weightlifting competition.
Eze showcased remarkable strength and determination, lifting a total of 232kg, but it was not enough to secure a spot on the podium.
Eze started the competition strong, lifting 101kg in the Snatch and 131kg in the Clean and Jerk. Her early performance saw her temporarily at the top of the standings, raising hopes for a potential medal finish. However, as the competition progressed, she was overtaken by stronger lifts from her rivals.
The gold medal was claimed by the United States’ Olivia Reeves, who dominated the competition with a total lift of 262kg—117kg in the Snatch and an impressive 145kg in the Clean and Jerk.
Maria Sánchez from Colombia took silver with a total of 257kg, while Ecuador’s Angie Palacios secured the bronze with 256kg. The competition was intense, with the top three lifters setting a high standard that was ultimately out of reach for Eze.
Despite her strong showing, Eze finished in 7th place, just 4kg behind Chinese Taipei’s W.H. Chen, who lifted a total of 236kg to secure 6th place.
Reflecting on her performance, Eze said, “I gave it everything I had, but today just wasn’t my day. Competing on the Olympic stage is a dream come true, and I will continue to strive for excellence.”
Eze’s performance was a significant achievement in itself, as she held her own against some of the world’s best athletes in her category.
Though the medal eluded her this time, her determination and talent have firmly established her as a competitor to watch in the future. As she looks ahead, Eze remains a beacon of hope for Nigerian weightlifting, inspiring future generations to aim for the stars.
