Commonwealth Games: Adijat Olarinoye Claims Nigeria’s 1st Gold Medal
Nigerian athlete Adijat Adenike Olarinoye won her nation’s first medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, setting a new Games’ record of 203kg to claim Gold in the Women’s 55kg Weightlifting event.
Olarinoye went for 111kg after lifting 110kg on her second attempt, and luckily her other opponents did not capitalise as she held on to win the event.
The Nigerian set her stalls early, breaking two Games Record in the Snatch category, all with a space of 10mins after lifting 90kg and 92kg respectively. She attempted 93kg on her last attempt in the Snatch but missed, however she was the only athlete to lift a weight over 90kg, taking a 3kg advantage going into the Clean and Jerk.
It was by no means an easy victory for Olarinoye, as he almost let Gold slip from her grasp when after the Nigerian technical crew made a conservative decision on her lifts which could have cost her the medal.
Having come under pressure from the English and Indian Weightlifters, the Nigerian lifter was lucky they didn’t match her combined total of 203kg, lifting 110kg and 111kg in quick succession in the Clean and Jerk.
With one more attempt left for India’s Bindyarani Sorokhaibam, and England’s Fraer Morrow trying to match 203kg, the latter missed her last attempt at 115kg, while the former moved into Silver medal with a lift of 116kg.
Overall Olarinoye took her chances and was undoubtedly the best lifter of the day.
Chidi Nwoke/Making of Champions.
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