JANET PAM MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST NIGERIAN-BORN POWERLIFTING WORLD CHAMPION

By: Gyang Dakwo

Nigerian-born athlete Janet Pam has made history at the World Masters Powerlifting Championships in Cape Town, South Africa, where she emerged as overall best lifter in her division to become the first Nigerian-born athlete to win a world title in powerlifting.

Competing under the banner of the Isle of Man, where she now resides, Pam dominated the Masters category with a commanding performance that drew praise from across the international lifting community. Her victory, confirmed by official meet results, marks a rare world triumph for the Isle of Man and a proud moment for Nigeria, the country of her birth.

Pam hails from Plateau State, in north-central Nigeria, and her sporting roots run deep. At Girls High School, Gindiri, she was an accomplished high jumper and shot putter, representing her school in inter-house and inter-school competitions. Coming from a family of athletes, her early exposure to structured competition laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for sport.

Her transition to powerlifting came later in life, but she approached it with the same discipline that defined her youth. Representing the Isle of Man, she began competing in regional and British Masters events, steadily rising through the ranks. Her consistent performances and record lifts eventually earned her a place on the world stage in Cape Town, where she delivered a flawless showing to claim gold.

Pam’s victory has been celebrated both on the Isle of Man and in her home state of Plateau, where sports enthusiasts describe her as a symbol of Nigerian excellence abroad. Voices in Jos have hailed her achievement as proof that Nigerian-born athletes continue to make an impact on global sport, regardless of where they compete.

The sporting pedigree in the Pam family extends beyond powerlifting. Janet’s daughter, Dr. Simi Pam, is a professional rugby player with Bristol Bears Women in England’s Premiership and a member of the England Red Roses training squad. She also serves as a medical doctor with the National Health Service, balancing medicine and elite sport with the same determination her mother displays on the platform.

Janet Pam’s world title adds a fresh chapter to Nigeria’s expanding list of international sporting contributions. Though she lifted for the Isle of Man, her victory resonates deeply across Plateau State and Nigeria at large, a triumph of talent, resilience, and heritage that transcends borders.