Paul Kehinde, Nigerian Para-powerlifter, who won golds at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, has died
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian Olympics and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Paul Kehinde, has died at the age of 33, after a brief illness.
The news of his death was announced in a statement issued by the ministry of sports and development on Friday.
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The statement revealed that the Para-powerlifter died on Thursday in Lagos, the ministry also sent condolences to his family and colleagues.
“The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is saddened to learn of the passing of our Paralympic champion Paul Kehinde,”
“Aged thirty-three (33), Kehinde who is the current World Record holder in the men’s 65kg para powerlifting category, passed on in Lagos on Thursday.
“The Ministry commiserates with his family, friends, colleagues and the entire Paralympic sports community over the loss.” the statement said.
Paul Kehinde won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil, after lifting 218kg to set a world and Paralympic record of 220kg.
He had won a gold in the men’s under-72kg category before the Olympics at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, where he lifted 221kg to win the gold.
He was, however, banned for 30 months by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for violating anti-doping rules, shortly before his death.
