History was made for Nigeria on Friday at the ongoing 2024 Paralympics in Paris as Onyinyechi Mark won the country’s first gold medal. Competing in the women’s 61kg para-powerlifting event, Mark lifted an incredible 147kg to win the gold. She followed that up with a new world record, lifting 150kg off a challenge attempt.
The Sports Minister of Nigeria, Senator John Owan Enoh, was in attendance to celebrate this victory and hailed Mark for her outstanding achievement. “This is awesome! Onyinyechi Mark has done the country proud, winning our first gold medal here in Paris 2024. The whole nation is celebrating you,” he said after the medal presentation.
Before Mark’s success, Team Nigeria had earlier secured a bronze in para-badminton and a silver in para-powerlifting. Many more medals are expected, as a couple of Nigerian athletes with world records are yet to compete in their events.
Mark’s feat not only brought pride to the nation but also raised hopes for more success in the coming days at the Paralympics.
