At 40 years old, Onye Lauritta is a powerhouse in Paralympian athletics, making waves as a shot-putter and a true inspiration. 🇳🇬 A Championships medalist.
🏅 Achievements:
- World Championships Medalist: Onye Lauritta is a two-time World Championships medalist and two-time Paralympic medalist.
- Breaking Through in 2011: Her career took off when her event was included at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, where she won silver in the shot put.
- Record-Breaking Wins: In 2015, Lauritta claimed gold in the shot put at the African Championships with a world record of 7.59 meters, and also took home silver in discus throw. That same year, she struck gold at the Doha International Paralympic Championships, extending her world record to 7.72 meters.
- Paralympic Glory: Onye Lauritta brought home Nigeria’s first athletics medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, clinching gold with a world-record throw of 8.40 meters, which still stands today. She later earned bronze at the Tokyo 2022 Paralympic Games with a throw of 8.29 meters.
- 2023 World Para Athletics Championships: Lauritta added to her accolades with a silver medal in Paris.
💫 Iconic Moment: Lauritta captured global attention at Rio 2016 with her jubilant celebration—dancing, catwalking, and somersaulting with the Nigerian flag. Her exuberance perfectly embodied the Paralympic spirit, earning her the nickname “the dancing queen” from Brazilian spectators. [Read More: Davido’s Remarkable Generosity: How a $800K Gift to Rick Ross Showcases True Wealth]
😔 Challenges: Despite her success, Lauritta has faced disappointing moments. After her gold medal wins at the Doha Championships, she and her coach were excluded from a presidential recognition event honouring Nigerian athletes. Additionally, despite her victory at Rio 2016, she was overlooked for rewards from her home state of Imo, simply because she resides in Lagos.
Beyond Athletics: Lauritta is also an actress, known by her stage name, Laury White.
A Call for Honor: Onye Lauritta, hailing from Owerri, Imo State, deserves national recognition for her extraordinary contributions to sports and as an inspiration to people with disabilities worldwide. 🖐🏽🎖️
