To 11-year-old Chinasa Ezenwa, who opened the medal window for Team Lagos on Day One of the ongoing 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State on Saturday, the inspiration came through a senior athlete from Lagos who she has been looking up to in her choosing sporting career.
Ezenwa told Independent News Express shortly after she was officially announced as the winner of two gold medals and one bronze in the weightlifting 45kg events that, while she would forever thank God for the victory, she would also be grateful to Adijat Adenike Olarinoye, the Africa and Commonwealth Games gold medal winner.
The gold medal haul came from her performance in the 45kg clean and jerk event and the bronze medal in the snatch event.
According to Ezenwa, an SS1 student at Command Day Secondary School, Oshodi, Lagos, Olarinoye has been a big sister motivating the Lagos lifters in camp, while most of them look up to her as a role model.
“I love the game of weightlifting, that is the reason I do take my training seriously, and more importantly is the motivation and encouragement I do get from our dear sister, Adijat who has been a source of inspiration to many of us at Lagos camp,” she said.
Ezenwa said she was not surprised with the gold medals won on Day One of the Youth Games as she had very good preparation coming to Asaba for the competition.
She said that her coaches gave her real training for her to prepare her mind steady for the challenge, hence the easy ride she has displayed excellently in the weightlifting events held on Saturday.
“The secret is that I always put my mind on what I am doing,” said Ezenwa who revealed that she got the inspiration and motivation to go for weightlifting looking unto her role model, Adijat Adenike Olarinoye, the Africa and Commonwealth Games gold medal winner.
Ezenwa, however, gave kudos and commendation to the Lagos State government through the Lagos State Sports Commission for giving her the platform to exercise her God-given talent which is now producing results for her.
Her coach, Omogbai Tina was so elated seeing her ward winning the first gold for Team Lagos at the Games. She assured that more medals are expected from Ezenwa and other weightlifters of Team Lagos as the sport continues on Sunday.
According to Omogbai, Adijat Olarinoye contributed positively to the good form and frame of mind of all the lifters representing Lagos State at the Games, adding that she usually comes to the camp to encourage and motivate the athletes which goes a long way to inspire the lifters.
