Oluchi Tobex Tobe-Chukwu
Team Nigeria’s golden run at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games turned into a historic showcase on Monday, as weightlifting sensation Rafiatu Folashade Lawal successfully defended her crown in the women’s 58kg category.
Delivering a performance for the ages, Lawal not only secured the gold medal but completely obliterated the competition, setting new Commonwealth Games records in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the overall total.
The Nigerian powerhouse was in a league of her own from the moment she stepped onto the platform. Lawal confidently opened her campaign with a 90kg lift in the snatch before raising the bar to a staggering, record-breaking 103kg on her final attempt. That sensational lift alone gave her a commanding nine-kilogram lead heading into the second half of the event.
Showing no signs of slowing down, Lawal completed her absolute masterclass in the clean and jerk. She comfortably hoisted 126kg to finish with a massive combined total of 229kg, sealing her back-to-back Commonwealth Games gold medals in emphatic fashion.
The gap between Lawal and the rest of the field highlighted her sheer dominance. Canada’s Ann-Sophie Taschereau took home the silver medal with a total lift of 215kg—falling 14kg short of the Nigerian’s total—while Australia’s Lani Tracey settled for bronze with a combined lift of 196kg.
Lawal’s triumph caps off a truly remarkable day for the Nigerian contingent. Her victory marks Team Nigeria’s sixth overall gold medal at Glasgow 2026, their third gold medal of the day, and their third gold specifically from the weightlifting platform.
As the Nigerian anthem rang out across the arena once more, morale in the camp reached a fever pitch. With their weightlifters setting global standards, Team Nigeria continues its soaring trajectory at the Games.
