Rafiatu Folashade Lawal is a weightlifter from Nigeria. She won a gold medal in the women’s 59 kg competition at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. She won the women’s 59 kg gold medal for Nigeria at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco. She also won gold in her division at the 2021 African Weightlifting Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.
Early Life and Education
On November 12, 1996, Rafiatu Lawal was born. She was born and raised in Lagos State, Nigeria’s southwestern region, where she completed her primary and secondary education.
Career
At the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, she won gold in the women’s 59 kg category. She also won gold in the Clean & Jerk and Snatch competitions. She also set a new African record with 93 kg in the snatch match.
She competed in the women’s 59 kg category at the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She finished sixth overall in this competition.
Her overall performance earned her gold at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in 2021. As a result, she will be able to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, she won a gold medal in the women’s 59 kg category.
Achievements
- 2019 African Games, Rabat, Morocco: Weight: 59kg, Position: 1st, Medal: Gold (Snatch and Clean & Jerk events), Record: 93 kg
- 2021 World Weightlifting Championships, Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Weight: 59kg, Position: 6th, Medal: Nil, Record: Nil
- 2021 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Weight: 59 kg, Position: 1st, Medal: Gold (Total result), Record: Nil
- 2021 African Championships, Nairobi, Kenya: Weight: 59kg, Position: 1st, Medal: Gold (Snatch and Clean & Jerk events), Record: Nil
- 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham, England: Weight: 59kg, Position: 1st, Medal: Gold (Total result), Record: Nil
