Weightlifter Wilkistar Nadzuwah Nyiro has withdrawn from the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships due to a quad sprain incurred in October.
The championships are scheduled for December 5- 16 in Bogotá, Colombia. “I am recovering from a quad sprain and I’ll miss out on the World Championships in December. I know it will affect my points for qualifying at the Olympics in Paris but I wouldn’t want to go and fail to hit my target,” Nyiro said.
She hopes to return next year as she seeks to feature in the Africa Senior Championships, All Africa Games and World Championships. During the Africa show, Nadzuwah is hoping to improve on her 7th place which she posted at the 2019 All Africa Games.
“I am preparing for Africa Championships, Africa Games, World Championships and other Olympic qualifying events,” Nyiro said.
“My main focus is on the All Africa, where hopefully I’ll finish among the top five. At least when I achieve this, I will even have the confidence to compete in more tournaments.”
She said her dream is to feature in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Australia. “I would want to go for the Commonwealth Games first before thinking about the Olympics.”
Nyiro also narrated how training for next year’s events is a tough balancing act as she also has to work.
“Balancing between work and training is not easy because I have to create extra time for practice. This is why we lose to other countries because to them weightlifting is a full-time job," she said, adding that being a sports woman comes with a lot of challenges hence little progress.
Despite all the challenges, Nyiro said she draws her inspiration from her passion for the sport. She also said the Kenya Weightlifting Federation (KWF) secretary general, John Ogolla motivates her a lot.
She revealed being a weightlifter has helped her gain confidence in her body appearance. “I follow my passion…it’s not about the money. My mother was also a sports person and I guess this runs in the family,” she said.
