Oluwafemiayo targets 2028 Olympics

Two-time Paralympics gold medallist Team Nigeria’s captain to the 2024 Games in Paris, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, is targeting another historic run at the next Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

On Sunday, Oluwafemiayo clinched a gold medal in the powerlifting event, shattering two world records in the process.

Her impressive weight lift of 167 kg capped off Nigeria’s outing, marked by a total of seven medals (two gold, three silver, and two bronze).

Despite her remarkable achievement of winning back-to-back gold medals at the Games, the 39-year-old is now looking to make it three in 2028.

“We have finished the Paralympics, and we have to rest our muscles for like a month before going back to training,” she told Austin Okon-Akpan in Paris.

“Afterwards, we will start preparations again for the next qualifiers because that is going to start very soon, and I have to go back to training, so I will qualify for the next Paralympics in Los Angeles 2028.

“I need to train more to get another record. If you are training, you have to look for that record. And while competing, it shows because countries like China will try to follow you from weight to weight, but when you give them a gap, they won’t even dare.”

She also lauded the Federal Government and the Ministry of Sports Development for the adequate preparation the team was privileged to have built up to the games and also urged them to consider monthly grants for para-athletes.

“It’s been a great experience in Paris, from the training to the competition itself.

“We moved from the last qualifiers in June to camp in Lagos and from there to Germany and finally Paris.”

The world record holder also has a silver medal from the London 2012 Paralympic Games.