Bayelsa Crushes Weightlifting Finals with Nine Gold Medals at Gateway Games
By: IDNN Weightlifting & Power Sports Desk
OGUN — When the curtain fell on the final day of the weightlifting event at the 22nd National Sports Festival, Team Bayelsa stood alone at the summit — claiming a jaw-dropping nine gold medals in one of the most dominant single-day displays in the sport’s festival history.
From heavyweight titans to raw youthful talent, Bayelsa’s weightlifting contingent crushed expectations and records, hoisting their way into Gateway Games 2025 glory.
Caroline Albert: The Queen of the Platform
Bayelsa’s run began with Caroline Albert, who swept the Women’s +87kg category in commanding style:
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🥇 Snatch – 100kg
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🥇 Clean & Jerk – 120kg
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🥇 Total – 220kg
She faced tough resistance from Rivers’ Sandra Ndukwe and Benue’s Joy Yakubu, but her clean technique and raw power left no doubt. “This was personal,” Albert said. “We came here to dominate, and we’re not done.”
Lucky Joseph Lifts Bayelsa to Heaven in +109kg Class
If Caroline set the pace, Lucky Joseph sealed the legacy.
In the Men’s +109kg class, Lucky went perfect on the board:
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🥇 Snatch – 145kg
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🥇 Clean & Jerk – 175kg
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🥇 Total – 320kg
His trio of gold medals capped an unforgettable day for Bayelsa and marked his own emergence as a heavyweight star to watch in Nigerian and continental lifting circles.
The Full Bayelsa Medal Machine
Other Bayelsa powerlifters added gold to the war chest, including:
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Adeyemi Abayomi (Men’s 102kg) – 3 gold
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Patrick Barde – Multiple podiums, including silver and bronze medals
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David Ekpeyong – Advanced in tennis but was seen cheering at the weightlifting venue, showing team spirit
By nightfall, Bayelsa had delivered a total haul of nine gold medals from the weightlifting stage alone — enough to tilt the medal table and spark murmurs of an overall festival win.
NWF President Reacts: “A New Era Begins”
President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, praised the high level of competition:
“We discovered new stars and re-affirmed the dominance of established lifters. Bayelsa has shown what investment and discipline can do.”
He also assured that top performers have been shortlisted for international grooming ahead of the African Games and Paris 2024 training camps.
