Algiers 2018: Bose Omolayo breaks world record

Bose Omolayo made history by breaking the women’s up to 79kg world record on the final day of competition (12 August) at the World Para Powerlifting African Championships.

Nigeria’s Rio 2016 gold medallist lifted 137kg in her second attempt. She then failed to clear the bar at 139kg in her third but succeeded in lifting 139.5kg in the fourth. It clearly meant a lot to Omolayo, who celebrated with her coach on the bench and waved to the crowd as she left the arena with a huge smile on her face.

Therefore, Omolayo broke the world record of 138.5kg that China’s Xu Lili had set on her way to gold at the Mexico City 2017 World Championships.

The 29-year-old was followed by Egypt’s Geehan Hassan (127kg) and Morocco’s Sanae Soubane (110kg).

Nigeria sweep women’s events

Loveline Obiji defeated Randa Mahmoud in a duel of Paralympic champions. Nigeria’s London 2012 gold medallist lifted 145kg to finish first in the over 86kg ahead of Egypt’s Rio 2016 champion, who cleared the bar at 138kg.

It was the first time that Obiji had beaten Mahmoud since the 2012 Paralympics. The latter had emerged triumphant in the last two occasions they had met at the Dubai 2014 and Mexico City 2017 World Championships.

Algerian Nadia Medjmedj (98kg) collected bronze.

Mexico City 2017 champion Folashade Oluwatemlayo (137kg) was the third female Nigerian powerlifter to top the podium in the up to 86kg on 12 August.

Egypt’s Amany Ali (122kg) and Algeria’s Daouia Soualmia (65kg) completed the top-three.

Nigeria ended top of the overall medals table with 11 golds and two silvers.

Five-star performance by Egypt

The North African country enjoyed a glittering last day by winning five of six men’s events.

Mohamed Elelfat (223kg) won the up to 80kg. Morocco’s Abderrahim El Ammari (172kg) ended second and Algeria’s Djillali Cheboub (148kg) third.

Hany Abdelhaby (185kg, up to 88kg), Tarek Wahdan (157kg, up to 97kg), Mohamed Ahmed (210kg, up to 107kg) and Amr Mosaad (220kg, over 107kg) were the other four Egyptian gold medallists.

Nigeria’s Rio 2016 bronze medallist Nnamdi Innocent (200kg) took gold in the remaining event of the day, the men’s up to 72kg, ahead of Algeria’s Billel Bouchefra (151kg) and Uganda’s Muhamed Nigo (125kg).

Egypt finished second in the overall medals table with eight golds, four silvers and two bronze. Algeria were third with one gold, five silvers and five bronze.

Full results are available on Algiers 2018's website.