2008 Olympic Weightlifting Bronze medalist, Mariam Usman has promised to nurture young weightlifters in Nigeria. The four time African champion urged coaches across the federation to return to the grassroots and discover athletes for future championships.
The NWF athletes’ representatives told aclsports.com that the structures are lacking and it’s the reason why athletes are wasting away. “The structures are not there to discover them and at the end, they waste away. We should return to the grassroots to discover them and nurture them to world-class lifters and medallists”
“There are many budding weightlifters that need to be invested in.
I am moved to tears many times when I see these young ones labouring at the stadiums around the country trying to achieve their dreams”.
The World bronze medalist said, “There should be encouragement for the current ones and investment in the up-and-coming ones. Nigeria never appreciates what it has until it gets lost”.
