Nigeria dominated Powerlifting at the London 2012 Paralympic Games with six gold medals in their 12-medal haul from 20 events.
The team broke four world records through Yakubu Adesokan, Esther Oyema, Joy Onaolapo and Folashade Oluwafemiayo, although she won silver in the women’s -75kg category as her world record came in a fourth lift and thus was out of competition.
Grace Anozie won gold in the women’s +82.5kg and said: ‘I’m expecting the President of Nigeria to welcome us all the way from the airport.
‘The whole team has been through stress and hell. They asked us to deliver and we have.’
Nigeria coach Mike Ajiboye added: ‘Our team are determined and focussed and, when they want to do something, they do it with their minds.
‘That is why we have been able to get so much from the Powerlifting at these Games. It is all down to determination and focus.’
China won the most medals in the competition with a haul of 15, which included three golds, while Egypt and Iran won four events each.
Siamand Rahman of Iran won the men’s +100kg with a Paralympic record of 280kg and afterwards said he felt like he had a home crowd at the ExCeL.
He said: ‘The crowd was great. It felt like I was in Iran, not London… The main thing is I got gold. This was my first Paralympics, and I am very happy to have beaten the Paralympic record. I thank everyone who has worked with me, especially my coaches for my gold medal.’
[Culled from LOCOG]
