Esther Nworgu broke two records in the women’s lightweight para powerlifting event.
August 11, 2026 | Nigeria | West-Central Africa Division and Adventist Review
The president of the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference (ENUC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Onyebuchi Opara, congratulated Esther Nworgu, a Seventh-day Adventist athlete, on her remarkable achievement of winning Nigeria’s first gold medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The 24-year-old athlete made history by breaking the Games record twice during the competition. She first set a new record with a successful lift of 118 kilograms (260 pounds), earning 114.1 points. Minutes later she broke her own record with a lift of 123 kilograms (271 pounds), improving her score to 119 points and securing the gold medal.
Opara described Nworgu’s victory in the women’s lightweight para powerlifting event as a powerful testimony of discipline, perseverance, and dedication. He noted that her record-breaking performance has brought honor to Nigeria and joy to the Adventist family across the country and beyond.
“Esther’s achievement reminds us that with commitment and hard work, God can use our gifts to create impact and inspire others. Her success is proof of the values we uphold as a church—excellence, discipline, humility, and service,” he posited.
Opara encouraged Nworgu to continue being a positive ambassador of Christ through her sporting career.
“Your victory is a testimony that inspires young people and reminds everyone that challenges do not define our destiny. Through dedication and trust in God, greatness can be achieved,” he added.
Speaking after her historic victory, Nworgu expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to represent Nigeria and credited months of preparation, personal sacrifice, and the support of the National Sports Commission for her success.
“We came here prepared, and the National Sports Commission did a lot for us. They invested so much to make sure we were ready, and I personally had to give my best to make Nigeria proud,” she said.
Nworgu described the Commonwealth Games as one of the toughest competitions in para powerlifting, noting that success required maximum effort and determination.
“It is not easy. The Commonwealth Games are different because you have to give your very best to achieve success. Seeing the Nigerian flag go up and hearing our anthem was a special moment,” she said.
In an interview with The New Telegraph newspaper, Nworgu explained that many people put limitations on themselves that prevent them from being successful. But “disability should never define you,” she said. “Don’t allow people to define you because of your disability.”
Nworgu called people with a physical disability to make the best use of their abilities. “It should never be the end of your life,” she added. “Not everyone with a disability will become a sports champion, but everyone has a gift. Discover what works for you and pursue it wholeheartedly.”
Finally, she reminded readers that “as Christians, the Bible teaches us that whatever our hands find to do, we should do it with all our strength.” She added, “Put your heart into whatever you do, and God will surely elevate you. It might not be easy at first, but if you put your mind to it, you will achieve your goal.”
The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial international multisports event that brings together athletes from across the Commonwealth of Nations, a political association comprising the majority of former territories of the British Empire. The 2026 games took place in Glasgow, Scotland, July 23 to August 2, and included 74 nations.