Lawal Makes History at World Championships, Inspires Sporting Leaders in Nigeria
Rafiatu Folashade Lawal has delivered a landmark performance at the 2025 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, Norway. Competing in the women’s 58 kg category, she earned three silver medals, an achievement no Nigerian has attained before at the World Championships.
Lawal lifted 101 kg in the snatch, 128 kg in the clean and jerk, making a total of 229 kg, and finished second overall.
The gold medal went to North Korea’s Kim Il-Gyong, who set a world record with a total of 236 kg, while Olympic champion Kuo Hsing-chun of Chinese Taipei claimed bronze with 224 kg.
This latest success builds on Lawal’s impressive track record. She has previously won gold medals at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, the 2023 African Games in Accra, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
News of her performance stirred pride and admiration among Nigeria’s sports leaders. Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), described her achievement as “a proud moment for Nigeria… a shining example of what dedication, resilience, and hard work can achieve.” He also lauded the consistency Lawal has shown since her earlier victories, and commended the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation for their role.
Bukola Olopade, Director General of the NSC, expressed similar sentiments. She said Lawal is not only inspiring young girls but also lifting the nation’s morale. Olopade emphasized that this milestone signals Nigeria’s readiness to aim even higher, including at the Olympics and other major international meets.