Daniel Anokwuru
For Paul Olumide Kehinde, 31-year-old Paralympics Powerlifting Champion, growing up was tough. Paul grew up without a silver spoon in his mouth. And being disabled as a result of polio attack from early childhood, he suffered humiliation, isolation and rejection.
According to him, when growing up, people around him saw his condition as an affliction and parents prevented their children from associating with him. Whenever they saw their children playing with him, they would rush and separate them, because they didn’t want them to be like him.
Paul said at times he felt overwhelmed and wept, because he saw himself as not being a complete human.
His disability affected his schooling. He did not start school early like his siblings.
In all his tribulations, however, he had his family members showering him love. That, he said, always gave him hope for a better future ahead.
READ ALSO:5 students to represent Nigeria at Global Robotics Olympics
Journey to stardom
With para sports, Paul broke the barrier between ability and disability. Turnaround came for him in 2015 when he met Kehinde Adetayo, who introduced him to powerlifting as a sport. He said although he had been fascinated by powerlifting for many years, and had been practising with able-bodied men on the streets of Ketu in Kosofe area of Lagos, where he grew up, he never knew how he could be successful in it until he met Adetayo. Adetayo, who had a powerlifting club had inquired if Paul was training at the National Stadium, Surulere; he said he wasn’t. Adetayo then promised to take him to the stadium. But Paul was scared to honour the invitation. His parents had disapproved of his joining the able-bodied whenever they trained in his neighborhood. His mother was particularly always angry because the strenuous exercise always made him very weak and, sometimes, ill.
To be able go to and train at the National Stadium, he urged Adetayo to help get his parents’ permission.
Paul said: “One beautiful morning, Adetayo came to my house and told my parents that in para powerlifting, people with disability travel a lot and they eventually become famous. Also, he told them that he did not want me to waste my talent, even though I am disabled. That all I needed was their support and prayer, that he believed that I would one day, become a champion and make money. He told my mother to just give me the opportunity. My mother then permitted me to go with him. She said she also shared same faith with Adetayo, that one day, I would become a champion. Whenever I felt discouraged, she would urge me on, promising me many things. I believed in my mother a lot. She loved me a lot. She always wanted me to make me happy. So, I started my training with her support and encouragement. Today, I am a champion, as they both predicted.”
READ ALSO:BBNaija: Nigerians ‘shocked’ over choice of housemates
Medals won
Paul Kehinde, has made a laudable impact in the para powerlifting competitions. He has won medals at local and international games. Some of his achievements are, 2009 KADA, gold medal, 2011 Garden City Competition in Rivers State, gold medal, 2011 FAZZA Competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, silver medal, 2014 Commonwealth Competitions, in Scotland, gold medal, 2014 Member of the Order of Niger (MON), 2015 World Championship in Kazakhtan, gold medal, 2015 All African Games, Congo Brazzaville, gold medal, 2016 Malaysia IPC Power-lifting, gold medal, 2016 RIO Paralympics Games, World record breaker, 2016 Special Person of the year award, Sports Person of the year award, African Future award, 2017 Mexico City World Para Powerlifting, gold medal, 2018 Gold Coast Australia Commonwealth Games, silver medal, 2018 19th National Sports Festival, Abuja, Nigeria, silver medal, 2019 world powerlifting Lagos, Nigeria 2019, silver medal, 2019 Merit Award Para Olympian and African Champion Holder.
Paul is currently a brand ambassador of Citi Bank of Nigeria.
Getting married
To people living with disability, getting married is another challenge of life. But for Paul, it just came easy. He was lucky to met a beautiful lady who accepted despite his physical challenge and loved him with all her heart. He found his heartthrob in the Saliu family. The family took him like their own son.
“I am very happy today; with the help of my wife, we are both fulfilled.” The marriage is blessed with a son.