Nigerian Para powerlifter Onyinyechi Mark came into her debut Paralympic Games looking to conquer the world. When she leaves Paris, she’ll carry with her a gold medal and new world record.
Paris 2024 is Mark’s first taste of this stage, but she arrived as world champion in the up to 61kg category after success in Dubai at the world para powerlifting championships last year.
She broke the world record twice back-to-back in her debut at La Chapelle Arena, on September 6. Her final regular lift was 147kg, breaking the world record, before a 150kg Power Lift just moments later which broke the world record again, securing her gold medal.
Targeting gold at LA 2028
The 23-year-old psyches herself up for each lift with a huge roar, and admitted she was targeting glory, despite her relative inexperience.
“I feel excited and so happy. I’ve worked so hard to be in these Games today, my expectation was for me to win my gold,” she said. “I’m here today to win, I did it; I’m so happy,” She told the International Paralympic Committee ( IPC).
She is not resting on her laurels either. Less than an hour after winning her first, she is already targeting a second Para powerlifting title in four years’ time.
“I will train harder to make sure I will get my gold back again in Los Angeles( 2028)
“It is all about training. When you want s
omething you have to work for it. You must be focused and know what you want; I’m proud of myself. Everyone starts somewhere; work hard for yourself. Don’t say you can’t do it, you have to try and you will succeed.
“My life has changed a lot; when I train I say to myself that I need to focus and make sure,” Mark told the IPC.
Hunger and drive to succeed
But what is the secret to her success?
“The passion.
“I have so much love for Para powerlifting,” she says, trying her upmost to contain the breadth of her grin and hold back tears.
“When I wake up, I see myself in a team. It means a lot, the sport means a lot. I feel happy when I am doing it. I enjoy everything about it; if there is a challenge, I make sure I am there [to match it].”
Mark doesn’t have to look far for role models; her teammates are driving her on to possibly compete in other categories in future.
“My motivation is my teammates, when I saw them lifting, I say to myself I can do it too.”
Credits: paralympics.org
