Nigeria’s impressive campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow gathered further momentum on Monday as Rafiatu Folashade Lawal claimed the nation’s sixth gold medal after producing a sensational display in the women’s 58kg weightlifting competition.
Lawal, the defending Commonwealth champion, retained her crown in emphatic fashion, delivering a flawless outing that saw her set a series of new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records.
She opened with a 103kg lift in the snatch, establishing fresh Games and Commonwealth marks before following it up with a 126kg effort in the clean and jerk to break both records again.
Her combined total of 229kg also became the new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth record, capping a dominant title-winning performance.
The Nigerian lifter finished a commanding 14kg clear of Canada’s Ann-Sophie Taschereau, who settled for silver with a total lift of 215kg.
Lawal’s triumph came only hours after Onome Omolola Didih secured Nigeria’s fifth gold medal in the women’s 53kg category with an equally outstanding performance.
Didih rewrote the record books by setting new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records with lifts of 93kg in the snatch, 113kg in the clean and jerk and a combined total of 206kg.
Earlier in the day, Edidiong Umoafia had ignited Nigeria’s weightlifting success by capturing the men’s 71kg title with a Commonwealth Games record total lift of 319kg.
The latest victories further reinforce Nigeria’s dominance in weightlifting, following the strong start made by the country’s para powerlifting team during the opening days of the Games.
Nigeria’s first three gold medals were delivered by Esther Nworgu, Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Riluwan Idris in para powerlifting.
The country has also added silver medals through Roland Ezuruike, Esther Oyema, Rita Ferdinand and weightlifter Ruth Asuquo Nyong.
With medal events still to come in athletics, wrestling, boxing and additional weightlifting categories, Team Nigeria will be aiming to build on its impressive haul as it pursues one of its finest Commonwealth Games performances.
