Paralympics: Nworgu Breaks Shoulder To Win Silver Medal
Nigerian powerlifter at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, Esther Nworgu, has expressed profound joy at claiming silver medal despite the many challenges faced.
Nworgu who dislocated her shoulder just two days before the feat, told newmen on Wednesday that her success felt “like heaven.”
She lost by one kilogram to narrowly miss gold in the bench press to defending champion in China’s Cui Zhe in the up to 41kg category.
Nworgu’s success was even more eye-catching owing to the fact that she was lifting through the pain barrier.
“I was so emotional because I never expected any medal from this competition.
“I had an injury two days ago and the doctors confirmed that I should not compete because it was critical.
“There is no adjective I can use to quantify my happiness right now.
“It is like heaven to me,” Nworgu said.
After the medal ceremony, Nworgu, 21, could be spotted with her right shoulder carefully strapped.
The Athlete on wheelchair had lost the use of her legs as a child.
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She reveaed that, haven lost the ability to walk on both legs as early as 8yrs and with no solution in sight, began the sports 10yrs later.
“I accepted my disability, joined it with the love in my personality and this (the medal) is the result.
“I don’t like using “d-i-s” in my ability, I like using “th-i-s” in my ability.
“When there is disability there is ability and what people see as ‘disability’ is not what I see, I see it as a strength and an ability.
“In sport, there are many things you have to realise about yourself.
“Sport is like an X-ray, it brings you out and shows what you are inside,” she emphasized.
