Trending 
Nigeria’s weightlifters and para powerlifters have emerged as the country’s biggest medal winners at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, accounting for 10 of Team Nigeria’s 12 medals, including all six gold medals won so far.
The campaign began in spectacular fashion with Edidiong Umoafia, who broke two Commonwealth Games records to win gold in the men’s 71kg event. The 23-year-old lifted 147kg in the snatch and 172kg in the clean and jerk for a record total of 319kg, improving on the bronze medal he won at the Birmingham 2022 Games.
Umoafia credited his success to years of discipline and preparation, saying the victory reflected four years of dedicated training after his bronze-medal finish in Birmingham.
Nigeria’s women also dominated the weightlifting events. Omolola Didih claimed gold in the women’s 53kg category with lifts of 93kg in the snatch and 113kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a total of 206kg. Competing at her first Commonwealth Games, Didih said extensive preparation, including a training tour in Scotland, helped her adapt to the conditions.
Rafiatu Lawal continued Nigeria’s winning streak in the women’s 58kg division, setting Commonwealth and Games records with a 103kg snatch before completing all six successful lifts to secure another gold medal.
Nigeria also added a silver medal through Ruth Nyong in the women’s 48kg category. Nyong recorded a personal-best total of 168kg after recovering from early missed attempts to finish second.
The country’s success extended to para powerlifting, where Esther Nworgu won Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games with a 123kg lift worth 119 points. Fellow Nigerian Esther Oyema secured silver after producing a best lift of 125kg.
Veteran Roland Ezuruike narrowly missed out on gold, settling for silver after tying England’s Mark Swan on 153.9 points but losing on the tiebreak.
Riluwan Idris added another gold medal to Nigeria’s tally, lifting 208kg to score 132.8 points and finish ahead of competitors from England and Malaysia.
With the Commonwealth Games entering its closing stages, Nigeria’s weightlifters and para powerlifters have provided the foundation for the country’s medal success, delivering record-breaking performances and keeping Team Nigeria among the leading nations on the medals table.
