Nigeria para-powerlifter and world record holder, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, talks about how she balances her career and marriage in this interview with ABIODUN ADEWALE
First of all, how are you spending your break after winning back-to-back gold at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris?
I won’t just say I’m enjoying it; it’s a well-deserved break. After every major competition, one needs to rest so that the body can readjust again. And it shouldn’t last too long as well. Personally, as it is, I can’t wait to get back to training. Afterwards, we will start preparations again for the next qualifiers because that is going to start very soon, and I have to go back to training so I will qualify for the next Paralympics in Los Angeles 2028.
You broke the world record twice in Paris, which put you in a gold medal position. What was going through your mind going for that lift?
What is usually on my mind is the target, and I set my target right from my training. You know if you train and you know what you want at heart, just keep pushing and you will surely get it. Going for records seems normal to me, as that automatically guarantees gold. I need to train more to get another record. If you are training, you have to look for that record. And while competing, it shows because countries like China will try to follow you from weight to weight, but when you give them a gap, they won’t even dare.
That’s how I prepare and get it done.
Do you get nervous in the process?
Not really, because whatever you do in training will show during competitions.
Let’s go back to London 2012. How was the experience?
It was my first outing, and, yes, there was nervousness, but you have to compose yourself. It wasn’t easy, but coming back with a silver medal was a big deal for me and made me believe I could do better. I gave birth to my second child around Rio 2016, so I couldn’t attend a second consecutive Games.
So, how was your motherhood experience in-between competitions?
It wasn’t easy, stopping training and going back to it after a while. Your body would have changed and started readjusting again. I would also say motherhood is a sweet experience, and it makes me feel good regardless of how challenging it is to combine it with sports.
After winning gold in Tokyo 2020, you won another one in Paris, and you are already talking about qualifying for Los Angeles 2028. What’s your biggest motivation to keep going at the age of 39?
It’s my husband. He has been there for me. He would always encourage me to go to training even when I didn’t want to. He is my partner in everything. He is also a powerlifter and was also in London 2012 and Rio 2016 as well.
How did you meet, and how are you balancing your careers with marriage?
We met in Ibadan around 2004/2005 and got married in 2007. As athletes who have the same routine, we understand our children need attention too, and we’ve been very intentional about that. Whenever we have competitions, the children are usually with our families.
Any chances of your children going into sports as well?
Yes, but I want them to get educated and then combine it as soon as they can. In any other case they want it, education comes first.
What was growing up like for you, and did you have a childhood dream before para-powerlifting?
I grew up in Jos, Plateau State. My mom said when I was three years old, I fell sick. She took me to the hospital, and I was given an injection. That was how it started. I wanted to become a nurse too, but that ambition couldn’t come to life because of discrimination. But I thank God for today that I picked myself up.
So, how did your para-powerlifting journey begin?
It was in Jos, Plateau State, after my secondary school education. I started training in 1999, when I met coach John Oguntoye, who introduced me to para-powerlifting, and then I started attending the National Sports Festival in 2002, and the rest is history. It was after I got married that my husband and I decided to move to Lagos.
What are some peculiar challenges you face as a para-athlete?
Well, I will say we are now used to it, but one of them is commuting, especially when going to training. For example, as a Lagos resident, I wake up as early as 3 am to first prepare my children for school before setting out for training at the National Stadium in Surulere with my husband. After training again, I will have to rush home to meet up with the children.
While commuting, do you face any form of discrimination from people?
In this part of the world, our people have the kind of mentality that people living with disabilities are beggars. I’ve seen the way people who are physically challenged are pampered abroad. It’s not about sympathy; it’s just about mutual respect. In other instances, imagine that some public facilities are not easily accessible to people living with disabilities as well, especially when you have to cross the road and you would need someone to carry you. I’ve been to some banks, and they would say I couldn’t enter, so someone would come outside to attend to my transaction. In cases where people spend N1000 on transport, we spend N3000 because we must charter for easy transportation.
Even when able-bodied athletes have failed to win anything, Paralympians have always won medals. How does that make you feel?
Honestly, it’s nothing special physically. It’s just the grace of God. In terms of training, I will also say that we are making the best use of our available facilities and equipment.
In terms of the number of medals, there was a decline in our performance at the Paralympics this year. How would you describe the outing?
Personally, I think it’s my best outing because it was really great to be out there competing for Nigeria. Generally, we all put in our best as well, but you know it’s a competition, but we hope to return stronger. We’ve always made our mark, and we will continue to strive for excellence. And when you have those that are supporting you as well, you have to appreciate them so they can do more. The sports ministry was really supportive, as were other bodies who showed up for us.