Nigeria’s Rafiatu Lawal etched her name in history at the 2025 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Forde, Norway, after winning three silver medals in the women’s 58kg category on Sunday — becoming Africa’s first medallist at this year’s event.
Competing against an elite field, Lawal finished second behind North Korea’s Kim Il-Gyong, who clinched gold with a world record total of 236kg, while Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Kuo Hsing-Chun of Chinese Taipei took bronze.
Lawal lifted 101kg in the snatch and 128kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 229kg, just 7kg shy of Kim’s world record mark. Kuo ended with 224kg in total. The Nigerian lifter also lost one lift on jury review, while Kim’s final 134kg attempt was ruled invalid for deliberate oscillation.
The result marks a major milestone for Nigerian and African weightlifting, as Lawal becomes the first athlete from the continent to win three silver medals at a single World Championship.
This latest achievement adds to Lawal’s impressive résumé, which includes gold medals at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and the 2023 African Games in Accra, as well as a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Following her feat, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) praised Lawal’s resilience, consistency, and contribution to Nigeria’s growing global reputation in weightlifting.
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko described her performance as “a proud moment for Nigeria,” saying:
“Rafiatu Lawal’s performance in Norway is a shining example of what dedication and hard work can achieve. Her consistency since the 2019 African Games reflects the strength of our athletes and the progress of our sporting institutions.”
NSC Director General Bukola Olopade also commended Lawal, noting that her triumph “has inspired young girls and lifted the spirit of the nation.”
NWF President Ibrahim Aladi hailed Lawal’s “focus, resilience, and relentless pursuit of greatness,” describing her as “proof that Nigerian weightlifters can stand tall on the world stage.”
Lawal’s triple-silver performance surpasses Ruth Ayodele’s record of two silver and one bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Saudi Arabia. Her success further cements Nigeria’s place among the world’s top weightlifting nations and boosts confidence ahead of upcoming international events, including the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Olympic Games.
