In a striking turn of events at the 22nd National Sports Festival, Michael Johnson, a seasoned weightlifter from Edo State, clinched victory in the 80-85kg category of the arm wrestling demonstration event, marking his first-ever outing in the sport.
Although new to arm wrestling, Johnson was approached by a coach during the festival and encouraged to give the demonstration event a try.
READ ALSO: Ogun2025: Plateau’s Rachel Davou Builds Momentum, Experience in Cycling at National Sports Festival
“I saw the demonstration. The coach met us—the weightlifters—and talked about it. I decided to come and try,” Johnson told Sports247. “I registered yesterday.”
Despite being unfamiliar with the technicalities of the sport, Johnson quickly adapted. He credited a pre-event seminar and his own initiative to study the rules online for helping him find his footing.
“Yesterday, we came for a seminar where we were taught so many things about the rules. We went online and studied. That’s how we actually got to know how to follow the rules.”
Even more impressive, many of his opponents were experienced arm wrestlers.“Most of those guys are good and already in the game. It was very difficult,” he said. “But because I’m a weightlifter and used to strong training, I managed to hold my own.”
His powerful background clearly paid off, earning him top honours in his category.
When asked what comes next, Johnson didn’t hesitate: “Yes, I have to take it. It’s a good sport and I love the game, so I have to train and invest in it.”
Michael Johnson’s spontaneous dive into arm wrestling may have started as a one-off, but his victory suggests that a promising new chapter in his athletic career has just begun.
