By Record-setting weightlifter, Adijat Olarinoye who won Nigeria’s first gold at the just-concluded 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, has appreciated the immediate past Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan for being instrumental to her successful career.
It would be recalled that the 23-year-old set a new Commonwealth Games record of 203kg to win gold in the women’s 55kg weightlifting event, beating India’s Bindyarani Sorokhaibam and England’s Fraer Morrow.
Olarinoye had recorded a similar feat in her debut for Nigeria at the 2018 All-African Games in Morrocco, lifting 116kg to finish overall best in the competition ahead of her competitors.
In a recent chat with Super Sports, the weightlifting champion dedicated her Commonwealth Games gold medal to her late personal coach, Taju Giwa.
She also expressed gratitude to the Bolowotan-led LSSC for providing the necessary support she needed to launch her career.
“I will also acknowledge the support from the Director General (DG), Lagos State Sports Commission and some of the members, and the Special Assistant (SA) to the DG,” she said.
For Olarinoye, she hopes to win more medals for Nigeria in subsequent international competitions, especially the Olympics Paris 2024 Games.
She said, “My expectations are to continue to excel. I need all the support I can get from the ministry, my federation and also from myself. We have to qualify so I’m looking forward to support from the ministry and funding. A training camp outside Nigeria will also help to develop us and help us attain better performances at the Olympics.”
