Africa-Press – Ghana. “I felt it would be very strange for me as a woman to tell my parents that I have decided to lift weights to earn a living. So, I decided to hide it from my parents as they always assumed that I was into athletics,” said Winnifred Ntumi, an African Games gold medallist.
For many Ghanaians, weightlifting is mostly assumed as a sport for men, as the few women who compete in the sport face unfavourable gender stereotypes.
But Ntumi was not perturbed about what people had to say about her newly found love; the sport of weightlifting. She trained day and night to be able to represent Ghana in various international competitions.
Ranked among Africa’s best female weightlifters in the 45kg and 49kg, Ntumi has won multiple medals at the African Games, African Championships and the Commonwealth Championship.
According to the 22-year-old weightlifting gem, her proudest moment was winning a gold and a silver for Ghana at the 2023 African Games, and she even aims to put in better performances on the stages of more prestigious competitions
“That dream is very big, but I believe it is possible. Every single day I train hard, morning and evening. Sometimes my body wants to give up, but I remind myself that this is for Ghana; this is for the Olympic Games.
“The training alone can humble you; sometimes your whole body is sore, but you still have to show up. And the mental pressure too, especially before qualifying for big competitions; it’s no joke.
“But I always told myself, no pain, no gain, no medals. I have to keep going, even though it’s tough. I keep pushing myself to move forward, and there is no looking back,” said Ntumi.
Ntumi clearing the snatch during training
The Journey
According to Ntumi, she never dreamt to be weightlifter or even planned. She was more into athletics right from primary school to senior high school.
“So I was more into athletics during the early stages, until I met a weightlifting coach, Otoo Larkyne who introduced me to the sport,” said Ntumi.
Ntumi said coach Larkyne was very helpful during the first six months of the sport, which made her develop more interest in it and started to train harder.
Maintaining a strict diet regime at the start posed a stern task for Ntumi, but she stayed steadfast to earn her first opportunity to compete at the African Championship in Egypt.
Ntumi was still contemplating how to tell her parents about the upcoming competition. She revealed, “So on the day I was scheduled to travel to Egypt, I told my parents I was going to the athletics competition, and they decided to escort me to the airport, where they bid me farewell and encouraged me to bring a medal home.”
Ntumi described that moment as very awkward but remained focused on the task ahead as she sought to win her international first medal.
“So I went to the Championship in Egypt and I won bronze. I was very delighted, but I was still thinking about how my parents might feel about it.
“So when I came back to Ghana and went home, my parents had seen me on television with the news that I won bronze in weightlifting. For a moment I was nervous, but they asked me whether I wanted to pursue a career in weightlifting, and I told them, Yes. Since then, they have been very supportive,” she said.
The spirit of validation from her parents gave Ntumi the needed spark in her career as she eventually became one of the topmost female athletes in Ghana.
But she says she currently feels unfulfilled in the sport, having missed out on the past two Olympic Games, but was determined to make the cut for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
“I believe that as time goes on, I can do better than my previous outing. Right now, I’m ranked among the best in my category in Africa. But I’m not stopping there.
“One day, I want to soar higher. To be among the best in the world. One day, I want to stand on the Olympic stage with the Ghana flag behind me,” She said.
Gender Stereotyping
Despite the tough training schedule and strict eating routines just to ensure she stays in good shape for the next competition, Ntumi had a dilemma to deal with.
According to Ntumi, she has faced multiple gender stereotyping from friends and society who seem concerned about her gradual masculine physiological build-up.
“Some people will say that the sports that I was doing are for men and questioned why I want to become bulky like a man.
“But I keep telling myself that in this world, no matter what you say, no matter what you do, people will still talk. So I don’t listen to what people say to me as a woman,” said Ntumi.
She disclosed that keeping focus and becoming mentally strong was key to overcoming what people were saying and the rants even gave her more energy to go higher.
“The more you talk, the more it keeps me strong and then bold enough to continue doing what I like to do most. I respect myself, and I don’t care what people say because, so far as I’m able to compete for the nation and get medals as well, that’s what is most important,” she said.
Ntumi says she now carries herself with pride, especially winning medals for Ghana, and can afford her basic needs for both herself and her family, something she had always dreamt of.
“For me, winning medals for Ghana is always a proud moment for me, and that keeps my solace amid the mental pressures of society,” she said.
Inspiring Young Women
Being a weightlifter requires a magnificent display of strength and determination, and Ntumi, having gained some ground in the sport, wants to encourage more women to get into the sport.
Ntumi says she wants to mentor many young girls who have the desire to enter the sport of weightlifting and be able to earn a living.
According to Ntumi, she was motivated to inspire young ladies to enter the sport after winning Ghana’s first medals at the 2023 African Games held in Accra, where she was celebrated when things got tough for the country on the medal table.
“I also want to mentor young girls to let them know that they can do it. It’s not easy. Nothing is easy. But I believe when you have the focus, when you are determined, you can do more than what you expect.
“I was really happy when I won Ghana’s first medals were at the recent African Games; I was really excited at that moment. I was really glad I made that record.
Ntumi keeping focus in training
Support for Weightlifting Federation
Despite her desire to compete at the highest level of the sport, Ntumi fears a lack of support for Ghana Weightlifting Federation could jeopardise her aspirations.
The young athlete urged government and corporate bodies to come in and help weightlifters who are working hard to place Ghana on the world scene.
According to her, the exposure improves their ranking, allowing them to compete in international tournaments.
“We need the government and corporate bodies to support our federation. That way, it makes the athletes travel, compete in the name of Ghana, make Ghana proud, and then qualify for the Commonwealth and then the Olympic Games.
“We need the most support when going for qualifications, and that is where we lack support. As I’m talking to you now, there are Commonwealth qualifications that we are supposed to take part in. That’s August next month, and then there is another in October and then November as well.
“But because there is inadequate support, it makes it difficult for our federation to even help us to go for these competitions,” she said.
She says, competing in weightlifting is not just about personal glory but about promoting Ghana internationally and letting the world know the diverse talents we have in various sports.
“So I would like to plead with the government and corporate bodies to support us in going for competitions. Without going for qualifications, we cannot even stand on the podium to say we are competing for Ghana.
“And this is not for us. It’s for Ghana. Please, and please again, we really need help, and we need support from various companies,” she said.
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