Esther Nworgu has won Team Nigeria’s first gold medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after producing a record-breaking performance in the Women’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting event.
Nworgu powered to the title with a top lift of 123kg, scoring 119 points to finish ahead of the field and deliver Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games.
The Nigerian para-powerlifter also broke the Commonwealth Games record twice during the competition on her way to the top of the podium.
It was a memorable one-two finish for Team Nigeria as Esther Oyema claimed the silver medal, completing an impressive Nigerian dominance of the event.
England’s Olivia Broome settled for bronze.
Nworgu’s triumph further underlined Nigeria’s strength in para powerlifting and added gold to the country’s medal haul in Glasgow.
Her victory came after veteran para-powerlifter Roland Ezuruike had earlier secured Nigeria’s first medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The 50-year-old won silver in the Men’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting event after finishing with 153.9 points from two successful lifts.
Ezuruike narrowly missed out on gold after his final attempt at a Commonwealth Games record lift of 190kg was unsuccessful.
Nworgu subsequently went one better in the women’s competition, delivering the country’s first gold medal with a record-breaking display.
Her victory, coupled with Oyema’s silver, gave Nigeria two medals from the same event as the country’s para-powerlifters once again delivered on the Commonwealth Games stage.
