- “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do; it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” —Rikki Rogers
Weightlifting is no longer just a male-dominated sport; it has become a powerful arena where women are shattering stereotypes and setting remarkable records. From overcoming societal expectations to achieving unparalleled success, these women are rewriting the rules of strength and resilience. Weightlifting has long been considered a male-dominated sport because traditional public perceptions of lifting weights, being strong or bulky, and athletic were associated with the male sex whereas women were deemed to be the “weaker sex”, but women have made their mark in this challenging and empowering activity for decades.
As the sport has evolved, women have shattered stereotypes and taken their place alongside men in weightlifting competitions worldwide.
Pioneering women in weightlifting
The roots of weightlifting can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was an essential part of the Olympic games. However, in the early 20th century, women began to participate in weightlifting more efficiently. Karyn Marshall made history in 1987 by becoming the first woman to clean and jerk over 300 pounds in a competition. Her achievement was a significant milestone in the sport and inspired many women to pursue weightlifting.
Since Karyn Marshall’s groundbreaking achievement, numerous women have risen to prominence in weightlifting. Notable figures such as Cheryl Haworth, Tara Nott, and Zoe Smith have significantly contributed to the sport and served as role models for aspiring female weightlifters. Their dedication and hard work have helped pave the way for future generations of women in weightlifting.
Setbacks for women in weightlifting
Building on the legacy of pioneering women like Karyn Marshall, contemporary weightlifters continue to push the boundaries of the sport despite facing numerous challenges such as gender stereotypes, unequal opportunities for training and competition, and limited access to resources are some of the obstacles that female weightlifters often encounter. “Some of the challenges included kits and generally my day-to-day upkeep…there was a time when I didn’t even have lifting boots for training that I had to train with my canvas,” Adijat Olarinoye, a female weightlifter, said in an interview with SuperSport.
Additionally, there is a persistent misconception that weightlifting can be detrimental to women’s physical appearance, leading to reluctance or resistance from some women to participate in the sport. When asked if women’s weightlifting was popular in Nigeria, Adijat said, “…there are many times I talk to women about the game, and they will be like “I don’t want to be like a boy, I don’t want to develop muscles,” they say a lot of things and some of them are being discouraged by their parents as well.”
However, these challenges have kept women from pursuing their passion for weightlifting. Through perseverance, determination, and a growing support network, female weightlifters continue to defy expectations and excel in their chosen sport.
Nigerian women in weightlifting
Today, countless women worldwide have embraced weightlifting and achieved remarkable success. Athletes like Loredana Toma, Lidia Valentin, and Sarah Robles have achieved Olympic glory and shattered records, showcasing female weightlifters’ exceptional talent and strength.
In Nigeria, these female weightlifters have equally done their fair share in doing well in the sport by representing Nigeria globally and achieving exceptional results.
Mary Taiwo
Mary Taiwo Osijo is a Nigerian weightlifter who competes in the 87 kg category and represents Nigeria at international competitions.
She emerged as a powerhouse in the 87kg weightlifting division at the 13th African Games, clinching three remarkable medals, including a bronze medal in the women’s Weightlifting 87kg event after lifting a combined weight of 236kg to finish in third place.
Joy Ogbonne Eze
Joy discovered her talent and trained herself with worn equipment and minimal support at a tender age. She participated in the December 2018 Festival Games in Abuja, where she won 2 gold and one bronze at the age of 14, from which she got her qualification to represent Nigeria in the 12th All African Games in Morocco, 2019(Weightlifting).
She got to the finals and defeated two Egyptian girls to win three gold medals and became an African champion at the age of 15. She also won the gold medal in the women’s 64 kg event at the 2021 African Weightlifting Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.
Rafiatu Lawal
Rafiatu won the gold medal in the women’s 59 kg event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England. In 2019, she represented Nigeria at the African Games held in Rabat, Morocco, where she won the gold medal in the women’s 59 kg event. She also won the gold medal in her event at the 2021 African Weightlifting Championships held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Rafiatu Lawal booked a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France after she lifted a combined total lift of 227kg, with a snatch of 101kg and 126kg in Clean and Jerk.
Rafiatu, with these lifts, set a new African Record in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event at the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Thailand, which serves as an Olympic Qualifier.
Adijat Olarinoye
Twenty-three-year-old Adijat started with Judo but switched to weighting. She debuted for Nigeria in 2019 at the All-African Games in Morocco, announcing her arrival on the continental stage by clinching gold in her 55kg weight category.
Adijat also set a new African record in the clean and jerk category by lifting 116kg to finish overall best in the competition ahead of her competitors.
She was Nigeria’s representative at the Women’s 55kg weightlifting event in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and won gold in the category.
Nigerian women in weightlifting have come a long way, challenging stereotypes and redefining the sport. At the 2024 African Games in weightlifting, Nigeria won six gold medals. Five of these were by women – Jacinta Umunnakwe (81kg), Blessing Oraekwe (70kg), Cynthia Ogunsemilore (60kg), Patricia Mbata (75kg), and Joy Nene Ojo (57kg). Latifat Ohiosumuan, a sports content producer, said there was no surprise in this.“As far as I know, this has always been the norm. And it isn’t just at the African Games alone. At African Championships, Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics too, in literally all sports in Nigeria, the women have been known to win more medals than their male counterparts.”
Cecilia Omorogbe, a Channels TV sports news anchor, said Nigerian female athletes work three times as hard as their male counterparts. She said what we are seeing are just the results. Their achievements testify to the power of determination, perseverance, and breaking barriers. As the sport continues to evolve, it is crucial to celebrate and support the accomplishments of women in weightlifting and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for all athletes, regardless of gender.
