How Frustration Pushed Me into Weightlifting – National Sports Festival Champion Ruth Inyang Reveals
Ruth Inyang, the newly crowned National Sports Festival weightlifting champion, has shared how frustration led her to the sport that has now brought her national fame and medals.
In an exclusive chat with SportsRation’s Nsikakabasi Akpan at the Civic Centre, Ikenne, the Rivers State athlete opened up about her inspiring journey after receiving two gold medals and one silver in weightlifting on Thursday.
“This is my third National Sports Festival,” Ruth said with a proud smile. “I won one silver and two bronze medals for Akwa Ibom at my first appearance. In 2022, I competed for Nasarawa State and won one silver medal. Now, in the 22nd edition, I’ve won two golds and one silver for Rivers State.”
When asked about the key values that have helped her grow in the sport, Ruth listed: “Hard work, training, determination and discipline.”
She went on to explain how her journey into weightlifting began, not with passion, but with disappointment.
“Frustration pushed me into weightlifting,” she said. “I was a sprinter before. There was a Youth Games competition coming up and I needed money, so I saw an opportunity to do weightlifting. I trained for one month, but unfortunately, I wasn’t selected for the Youth Games.”
Ruth credits Coach Andrew Ekanem for helping her discover her love for the sport.
“He saw potential in me and encouraged me to keep going. In 2019, he asked me to train for a championship. That was the beginning, and now here we are.”
Now a national champion, Ruth has set her sights on international competition.
“My next target is to attend the Commonwealth Games and represent Nigeria. I have to step up, work harder, and stay focused.”
A native of Akwa Ibom State, Ruth also shared her desire to one day return and represent her home state.
“Yes, I would love to go back to Akwa Ibom because it is home,” she said. “But I would also love to be treated well, like a daughter.”
With her medals shining brightly and her goals set even higher, Ruth Inyang’s story is a reminder that sometimes, frustration can lead to greatness.
