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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 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 is not resting on her laurels either. Less than 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 LA.
“It is all about training. When you want something 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.
“Lucy Ejike [who came fourth in the up to 67kg] and Bose Omolayo [who will compete in the up to 79kg on Saturday] are the ones. I see them lifting heavier, I say I can get there one day; I did my training and made sure I get to the top.
“My family and friends are proud of me and that makes me emotional. My country is proud of me. I have been speaking to them, they said ‘you made it!’.”
Learning how to win
Mark has been competing in the sport since 2018, four years after her first introduction to it. After her first competition, which she won, she said she didn’t even know what a gold medal was
“I tried my best in my first competition in Nigeria; I was very happy [to win]! They said I had won a gold, I was like ‘gold, what is gold?’ When I touched it, it felt real!” Mark said.
Clutching the medal tightly as she recounts her story, Mark certainly knows now. Next on her agenda, it is time to celebrate.
“I’m going to party,” she said softly, with another smile.
Now that Mark is the dominant force in her class, it’ll take a lot for anyone to usurp her and take away future golds.
