Maryam Usman, who just won Nigeria’s Weightlifter of the Year 2014, summarised her success secrets tell AYO BADA the secret of her success.
Opinions were divided on why the weightlifting medal hopeful for Team Nigeria in the London 2012 Olympics crashed out of the Games without a medal.
Not only that. The African queen of weightlifting did not make impact in the event, as her last lift in the Clean and Jerk (160kg) frittered away the points she earlier garnered.
Many blamed Patrick Bassey, her coach then, for not starting her with lesser weights, rather than introducing her to 160kg after lifting 129kg.
But in defending himself, Bassey said she would not have been in contention for bronze since her closest opponent had a lesser weight and would dislodge her.
He said: “I had to raise her to 160kg because she was no stranger to that. She lifted 170kg.
“She went to London to win, but Usman lost focus. I don’t know what happened, but she bungled it. It was painful. I brought her up and I know her capability.”
Usman, has however put that behind her. Rather than lamenting her poor performance at the London Olympics, she kept on waxing stronger and stronger to the amazement of her admirers and critics.
The Nigerian weightlifter, who competes in the +75kg category, had won overall silver at the 2007 All African Games (AAG) in Algiers, Algeria, with a total of 248kg.
At the World Weightlifting Championships held at the 700th Anniversary Sports Complex in Chiang Mai, Thailand, she ranked ninth with a total of 257kg and she won overall gold medal at the 2008 African Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a total of 265kg.
Also in 2008, Usman competed in weightlifting at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, in the +75 kg category finishing fifth with 265 kg.
At the World Championships in Paris, France, in 2011, she picked the bronze medal at her +75kg category and won overall gold medal in the +75 kg at the 2012 African Weightlifting Championships in Kenya.
At the same tournament, she emerged secondbest female lifter, with compatriot, Chinenye Fidelis, coming tops. However, the highpoint of her feat was her performance at the last Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland.
She scored 125 points in Snatch and 155 points in Clean and Jerk for a total of 280 points at the Clyde Auditorium to win the women’s +75kg gold and pushed Team Nigeria to the top of the weightlifting medals table, beating defending champion of the category, Samoa’s Ele Opeloge to the silver after a total of 271 points.
On Thursday, November 13, she joined other athletes and sports-loving Nigerians to witness the Nigerian Sports Award 2014 held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
At that event, Usman, alongside Oluwatoyin Adesanmi, was nominated for the Weightlifter of the Year 2014 award.
At the end of voting, Usman emerged winner to add to her laurels.
With a smile, she promised to keep representing and winning laurels for the country at major international competitions.
She said: “I feel honoured and glad to be voted as the Weightlifter of the Year 2014 by Nigerians. It was an honour that I feel is also a challenge for me to continue to do more, and promise not to disappoint the country.”
She was, however, quick to disclose the secret of her success to TheNiche at the end of the event.
She said: “Well, the secret of my success is not far-fetched. With all honesty and modesty, I can say that determination and hard work are the keys to my success and I believe that other athletes can also achieve success if they are determined and hard working.
“I want to thank my coach for the tutorials and words of encouragement, and my fans for believing in me that I can do the country proud.
“My word is that I will not disappoint and continue to do the country proud whenever I am called upon to represent the country.”
Apart from Usman, other recipients at this year’s Nigerian Sports Awards include Aruna Quadri (Ball Sports Personality of the Year); Blessing Okagbare (Track and Field Personality of the Year); Asisat Oshoala (Footballer of the Year – Women); Vincent Enyeama (Footballer of the Year – Men) and St. Barnabas Primary School, Ilorin (School Sport Award).
Others are Courtney Dike (Discovery of the Year); Super Falconets (Team of the Year); Peter Dedevbo (Coach of the Year); Tana Aiyeina (Journalist of the Year – Print) and Miyen Akiri (Journalist of the Year – Television).
The last set of award winners include Efe Ajagha (Boxer of the Year); Odunayo Adekuroye (Combat Sports Person of the Year); Loveline Obiji (Special Sports Person of the Year); Waidi Oshodi (Sports Administrator of the Year); Governor Babatunde Fashola (Sports Governor of the Year); Vincent Enyeama (Sportsman of the Year); Blessing Okagbare (Sportswoman of the Year); Godwin Enakhena (Journalist of the Year – Radio) and Ayodele Ojo (Journalist of the Year – Photo).
Weighing 120Kg (264 lbs), according to latest statistics, Maryam Usman, who “decided to become a weightlifter because of the intimidation from boys”, was born in Kaduna on November 9, 1990.