Nigeria’s young lifters continued their impressive run at the 2025 Africa Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championship in Accra, Ghana, with Florence Olarinoye leading the charge on Monday evening.
Competing in the women’s 58kg category, Olarinoye won six gold medals, dominating both the Junior and Youth divisions. She lifted 71kg in the snatch, 86kg in the clean and jerk, and recorded a 157kg total.
The performance earned her three gold medals in the Junior class and another three in the Youth class.
The 18-year-old has been a rising star in Nigerian weightlifting, with previous successes at the 2023 National Youth Games and a silver medal at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
Florence Olarinoye. Photo Credit: X
Her medals brought Nigeria’s tally to eight gold and one silver so far at the week-long competition.
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Earlier in the day, Ezenwa Chinaza Cecilia won two gold medals and a silver, lifting 63kg in the snatch, 72kg in the clean and jerk, and 135kg overall. Her success set the tone for Nigeria’s medal haul on day four.
The medal presentation ceremony will take place at the Ga Mashie Hall inside the Trust Sports Emporium, Accra.
The results come just days after the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) concluded its elective congress, which returned Dr Ibrahim Abdul Aladi as president for another four-year term.
The federation hopes the strong showing in Accra will inspire more podium finishes before the championship ends on Friday, August 22.
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The 2025 Africa Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championship began in Accra on Friday, August 15, with lifters from across the continent competing in multiple weight categories.
