Nigeria’s weightlifting star Rafiatu Folashade Lawal once again proved her class on the global stage, winning three silver medals in the women’s 58kg category at the 2025 IWF World Championships held in Førde, Norway.

Competing on Saturday, October 4, the 28year old lifted 101kg in the Snatch and 128kg in the Clean & Jerk, finishing with a total of 229kg, a performance that earned her three silvers and secured Nigeria’s place on the championship medal table.

Lawal’s impressive outing made history, as she became the first Nigerian athlete ever to win three silver medals at a single World Championship, reaffirming her position as one of Africa’s most consistent and dominant lifters.

In the Snatch, North Korea’s Kim Il-Gyong took gold with 104kg, while Lawal settled for silver with 101kg. The USA’s Miranda Eleanor Ulrey claimed bronze with 98kg.

The Clean & Jerk event saw Kim continue her fine form, lifting 132kg to edge out Lawal and Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Hsing-Chun, who both recorded 128kg. Kim also clinched gold in the total, finishing with 236kg ahead of Lawal’s 229kg and Kuo’s 224kg.

Now ranked World No. 2 in her category, Lawal, a multiple African champion and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, she continues to carry Nigeria’s flag high on the international weightlifting scene.