Mark Onyinyechi was a triple threat at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on Friday, winning Nigeria’s first gold medal and breaking the world record twice.
Competing in the powerlifting women’s 61kg event, Mark’s final lift of 150kg was not only enough to earn her gold for Team Nigeria, it was her second world record of a historic day.
She started off with a lift of 140kg, which was already in the medal zone, and added five kilogrammes for her second attempt.
Mark succeeded with the 145kg effort, breaking the Games record of 143kg in the process.
She them moved up to 147kg, which was a new world record attempt, and she succeeded again, securing the gold medal.
The strong Nigerian woman, despite already being sure of gold and a world record, then lifted an extraordinary 150kg to set a second world record in a matter of minutes.
Mark’s stunning performance means that she has now set the last three world records in women’s 61kg powerlifting: 146kg, 147kg, and 150kg.
Jianjin Cui finished second with 140kg to clinch silver, with Mexico’s Amalia Perez Vazquez bagging bronze with 135kg.
