Esther Nworgu delivered Team Nigeria’s first gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a stunning record-breaking performance in the Women’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting event.
Nworgu secured the gold after lifting 123kg to score 119 points, finishing ahead of the competition. On her way to victory, she broke the Commonwealth Games record twice, capping off a remarkable performance on the biggest stage.
Team Nigeria celebrated a dominant outing in the event as Esther Oyema claimed the silver medal, while England’s Olivia Broome settled for bronze, completing a memorable one-two finish for the Nigerian contingent.
Nworgu’s victory reinforced Nigeria’s reputation as a powerhouse in para powerlifting and boosted the country’s medal tally at the Glasgow Games.
Earlier, veteran para-powerlifter Roland Ezuruike had won Nigeria’s first medal of the Games, taking silver in the Men’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting event. The 50-year-old scored 153.9 points from two successful lifts but narrowly missed the gold after failing to clear a Commonwealth Games record attempt of 190kg.
Nworgu’s gold, alongside Oyema’s silver, ensured Team Nigeria claimed two medals from the women’s event, continuing the country’s impressive tradition of excellence in para powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games.
