Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike

Who is Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike?

Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike is a Nigerian powerlifter. Ejike uses a wheelchair due to polio and has represented her country at the Paralympic Games four times, in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Ejike began training as a powerlifter shortly before the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. She competed in the 44 kg weight class at those games and took the silver medal with a lift of 102.5 kg, behind Fatma Omar of Egypt. Four years later at the Athens Games she broke the Paralympic powerlifting world record twice and won the gold medal with a lift of 127.5 kg.

At the 2008 Beijing Games, Ejike moved up one weight class and took gold in the 48 kg event. She broke the world record with her first attempt, lifting 125 kg. She broke the record again with a second lift of 130 kg, but faltered while trying to lift 137.5 kg on her third attempt.

She won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.