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By: Ebenezer Bajela.
After showing her class in the 49kg women’s weightlifting event where she claimed all three gold medals for Team Lagos on Day 2 of the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba, Florence Olarinoye has called on more girls to engage in weightlifting.
Olarinoye, 13, the younger sister of Adijat Olarinoye, the African and Commonwealth Games champion — was way ahead of her opponents as she claimed all three gold medals for her state on Sunday.
She lifted 56kg in snatch and had an impressive 72kg lift in clean and jerk totalling 128kg to win the medals.
Reacting to her achievement, the SS2 student of Lagos City College, who also has her sister as her role model, explained how the said Commonwealth Champion encouraged her despite claims from people that weightlifting was not for ladies.
“I want to say thank you to my friends, family and fans. I want to encourage other girls out there to engage in weightlifting as a sport because some people told me weightlifting was not for girls,” she said.
“I have been watching my sister train, win medals for Lagos State and Nigeria at the African and Commonwealth Games. This is why I had to adopt her as my role model and I want to achieve what she has achieved.”
The 13-year-old added, “I feel very happy winning three gold medals in my weight class. I have been training very hard and three months before the National Youth Games, our coaches gave us programmes to help us keep fit.”