Lucy Ejike

Lucy Ejike in our words

Is a world record holder in Paralympics Game born on 16 October 1977 in Enugu. She has represented Nigeria at six Paralympic Games from 2000 to 2020, winning medals at each. She competed for Nigeria in the 44 kg weight class at the 2000 Summer Paralympics Game in Sydney, Australia winning a silver medal with a lift of 102.5 Kg.

At the 2004 Athens Games, She competed in the same 44 Kg weight class winning a gold medal with a lift of 127.5 Kg. She moved up one class winning a gold medal in the 48 Kg event at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Beijing, China with a lift of 125 Kg on her first attempt, 130 Kg on her second attempt but loosed strength on her third attempt with a lift of 137.5 Kg.

Ejike aimed at setting a new world record game by moving up another weight class in her third attempt which she took up the beat at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London in the 56kg event but was overthrown by her opponent Fatma Omar who is a 56kg world record holder with a lift of 142 Kg while Ejike finished with a lift of 135 Kg placing 2nd with a silver medal. She was the flag bearer for Nigeria at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Game in Rio de Janeiro and also won a gold medal in the women’s 61 kg division with a final lift of 142 Kg making her a three-time gold medal winner. She added a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.

Enugu roots

Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike was born in Enugu on 16 October 1977. Polio left her using a wheelchair, but powerlifting gave her a stage. She lives in Enugu State with her husband and two sons and works as a sports administrator.

Six Games, six medals

From Sydney 2000 to Tokyo 2020 she won a medal at every Paralympics she entered. At Rio 2016 she broke the 61 kg world record three times in one competition, finishing on 142 kg, and carried Nigeria’s flag at the opening ceremony. She also won world titles in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Paralympic record